"Don't Forget The Pierrots!'' The Complete History of British Pierrot Troupes & Concert Parties: The Complete History of British Pierrot Troupes & Concert Parties

This book is the first authoritative historical textbook to look at the origins, development, and evolution of seaside pierrot troupes and concert parties and their popular performance heritage. It will provide a definition of the pierrot troupe and its evolution from European popular traditions, and how it grew into a major international cultural industry during the two World Wars.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 406 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive historical textbook delves into the origins, development, and evolution of seaside pierrot troupes and concert parties, examining their rich performance heritage. It offers a groundbreaking definition of the pierrot troupe and its journey from its roots in European popular traditions like commedia dellarte and minstrelsy to its connections with music hall and contemporary popular culture. Author Tony Lidington explores the remarkable transformation of pierrot troupes from a singular idea to a significant international cultural industry, highlighting their role in boosting morale and national identity during the two World Wars. The book further explores how pierrot troupes transitioned into contemporary pop music and comedy, providing an experiential framework for the historical and ethnographic analysis of this captivating form. With its wide appeal to students, researchers, performers of outdoor arts, clowning, comedy, minstrelsy, vernacular music-making, and music hall, this book is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the historical and cultural significance of seaside pierrot troupes and concert parties.

Weight: 662g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367489182