Description
An Illustrated History of British Theatre and Performance chronicles the history and development of theatre from the Roman era to the present day. As the most public of arts, theatre constantly interacted with changing social, political and intellectual movements and ideas, and Robert Leach’s masterful work restores to the foreground of this evolution the contributions of women, gay people and ethnic minorities, as well as the theatres of the English regions, and of Wales and Scotland.
Highly illustrated chapters trace the development of theatre through major plays from each period; evaluations of playwrights; contemporary dramatic theory; acting and acting companies; dance and music; the theatre buildings themselves; and the audience, while also highlighting enduring features of British theatre, from comic gags to the use of props.
Continuing on from the Enlightenment, Volume Two of An Illustrated History of British Theatre and Performance leads its readers from the drama and performances of the Industrial Revolution to the latest digital theatre. Moving from Punch and Judy, castle spectres and penny showmen to Modernism and Postdramatic Theatre, Leach’s second volume triumphantly completes a collated account of all the British Theatre History knowledge anyone could ever need.
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
Publishers’ Acknowledgements
Preface
Part One : Theatre and the Industrial Revolution
Interlude : Punch and Judy
Part Two : Romantic Theatre
Interlude : Toy Theatres
Part Three : Modernist Theatre
Interlude : The Art of Edward Gordon Craig’s Theatre
Part Four : Commercial Theatre
Interlude : Shakespeare Wallahs
Part Five : Popular Theatres
Interlude : Mumming Plays
Part Six : Subsidised Theatre
Interlude : Peter Brook and the Empty Space
Part Seven : Postdramatic Theatre
Epilogue : Digital Theatre
Glossary
Index
