Theater and entertainment were very popular and sought-after during the Victorian Era. The performance world was one of the few ways of public entertainment during this time period. All Victorians, from the upper-class and the wealthy to the servants and apprentices, greatly enjoyed watching the unique and pleasing performances. Audiences were divided by class so that the aristocracy wouldn’t have to make contact with the lower class. The lifestyles of the Victorian people greatly influences the aspects of theater in the era. Class Divisions in the Theater: Before the 1850s, Victorian theater had an unruly reputation, and a lady or gentleman was rarely seen watching a performance. However, respect for theater increased in the 1850s, and upper-class audiences were seen attending performances more regularly. Classes were divided during performances and dramas into three different sections. The box was reserved for the aristocracy, the pit was for lawyers and students, and the gallery was for the servants and apprentices. (Victorian) The upper-class was always provided with luxury while the lower-class did not receive any chair backings or comfort. To attract the upper-class, separate entrances were even made so that the wealthy would not have to make contact with the lower-class. Many wealthy Victorians would usually only go to performances to show themselves off. (Victorian) The urban poor, however, rarely attended shows at all, but if they did, they were brought to view the performances from the upper galleries, far away from the aristocracy. (Victorian London) Many performances were even inspired by the lower-classes. “…for the first time in British theater history, playhouses and scripts targeted the working, lower-middle ... ... middle of paper ... ...ng the Victorian era were influenced by the advancements in society and lifestyles of the victorian people. Works Cited Chance, Abigail. "Victorian London Theater: Dickens on the Right to Amusement for the Working Class." Victorian London Theater: Dickens on the Right to Amusement for the Working Class. Brown University, 2010. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. Pothke, Jana, and Julia Melchior. "Victorian Theater." N.p., 2005. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. "Researching Theatre and Performance." Victoria and Albert Museum, Online Museum, Web Team, Webmaster@vam.ac.uk. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. Primary Source Citation Southern, Richard. The Victorian Theatre: A Pictorial Survey. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1970. Print. "Victorian Theatre Production - 1876 Victorian England Revisited." Victorian Theatre Production - 1876 Victorian England Revisited. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
Eighteenth century British theatre was perhaps the starting point that would evolve into modern theatre. Women started to be allowed on stage and acting techniques were beginning to change. Leading performers were like celebrities with a number of fans. Theatre was an intricate part of the social ladder. In the overall scheme of things the actors and actresses played an important part in making the theatre what it was. Without the performers there wouldn’t really be theatre, so in order to understand the eighteenth century British theatre the performers of that era need to be understood.
Bordman, Gerald, ed. The American Theater:A Chronical of Comedy and Drama1930-1969. Oxford University Press, 1996.
Hodges, C. Walters. The Globe Restored: A Study of the Elizabethan Theatre. London: Oxford University Press, 1968. Print.
There are many important aspects of theatre history. Important playwrights, actors, theatres, and events that impacted theatre in major ways. In this paper I am going to discuss the life of an important actor who would be better known for his last name and the actions of his brother. By looking into his life I have learned how interesting of an actor he was and what significance he had on theatre history. This actor is Edwin Booth.
Howard, Jean. "Cross-dressing, The Theatre, and Gender Struggle in Early Modern Eng- land." Shakespeare Quarterly 39 (1988): 418-40.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, there was a time in history, when a brand new style of entertainment swept the nation. It changed the very way that Americans would perform in theaters, while illustrating the creativity of people with an eagerness to entertain.
For the Elizabethan society, the theater represents a very powerful place. The theater was used as a tool for advertising and drawing the public attention to whatever is being performed. While we may consider Hamlets
Russell Brown, J. 1995. The Oxford Illustrated History of the Theatre. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Elizabethan times in the 1600s was a progression for the world of the theater. A period named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, it is from this period that modern day society has its foundation for the entertainment industry. From the violence that was prevalent because of the Black Death, people turned to the theater for its poetry and romance. During this time period, there were two types of theatrical performances that were available for the people’s viewing, comedies or tragedies. These two genres were never really intertwined until the time of William Shakespeare. His play, Romeo and Juliet, is an example of both a comedy and a tragedy. It starts off as a comedy with Romeo weeping like a baby because of his love Rosaline, who did not love him back and ends as a tragedy when Romeo and Juliet, a pair of star crossed lovers, commit suicide because the lost of each other. It was also during Shakespeare’s time that writer were finally acknowledged by the people. Before this time, writers were not considered upper classman. Another group of people that began to rise into a higher social class were the actors. Actresses were not present back then because women were not allowed on stage. It was considered unladylike to have a female actor. Men played all the parts. Theater owners were dependent on actors to make them a profit. Rehearsals for the plays were fairly short, only lasting for about a week. The performances themselves would only show for three to four days.
"Theaters." Renaissance: An Encyclopedia for Students. Ed. Paul F. Grendler. Vol. 4. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2004. 120-122. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 26 Mar. 2014
Many cultural enthusiasts, archaeologists, and architects have a common interest in theatre and its origins. People from a few decades back have located the remaining of the oldest theatres in Greece, England, France and some parts of minor Asia. Theatre was a part of people’s lives as it was one of the few sources of entertainment, and it was originated from when people collectively sit in a gathering and listen to a storyteller. There were performances done by different people present at that moment. Later on, this activity kept improving and innovating, and in the result, many theaters for entertaining purposes were built by emperors who ruled the countries or kingdom in those days. The design of these theatres
Greek and Elizabethan theatre, while similar in some respects, had a few large differences. The Greeks believed in a certain unity of theme, which was prevalent throughout the production. Greek plays were often drawn from myth or of historical significance, so it seems that only ki...
Nevertheless, the question at hand is whether theatre will have a role in the society of the future, where cinema, digital television, and computers will continue to expand and grow. The answer to this question is yes. Heading into the 21st century, theatre will only be a fraction in a solid media industry. However, despite all the excitement technology brings with it, they will never replace theatre because it has something that can not be recreated or offered anywhere else. The cinema and its larger than life world appeals as an affordable alternative. Digital television provides digital interaction between the viewer and the producer. Theatre on the other hand, and its contents may take on a larger dimension, but we receive it directly in flesh and blood – one to one. The magical atmosphere between an actor and spectator who are constantly aware of each other and the theatre’s level of engagement is fundamentally more human and far more intimate.
Societies progress can lead to intercultural similarities, and vastily obvious differences. These influences can be seen within the contemporary theatre of the times, explaining and progressing the status of community through storytelling and performance. The reactions to these changes are important, and help shape the society we have today. These elements are best seen between the medieval ans renaissance period.
Theatre as we know it now was born more than two thousand years ago and has gone through many streams until it reached the current modernity. Among these streams is the avant-garde theatre. This theatre achieved a break in the traditional theatre and became the forefront of a new experimental theatre. Therefore it is necessary to ask how this theatre started, what impact it had on society and if this type of theatre is still common in our modern era.