Ireland, Enlightenment and the English Stage, 1740-1820

The eighteenth-century English audience was greatly influenced by Irish civility and culture, which was represented in the theatre by Irish actors and playwrights. They exploited a growing receptivity to Irish civility and advanced a patriot agenda of political and economic autonomy, seeing little conflict between their loyalties to the Crown and to Ireland. This collection of essays responds to recent work in eighteenth-century theatre studies, Irish studies, and Enlightenment studies, opening up new avenues of scholarship and research across disciplines.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 282 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Theatre played a vital role in showcasing the essence of Irish civility and culture to the English audience during the eighteenth century. Irish actors and playwrights, both individually and as part of networks, gained immense popularity and influence, particularly in London. As the ideas of Enlightenment spread across Britain and Ireland, Irish theatrical practitioners capitalized on the growing appreciation for Irish manners and advanced a patriot agenda aimed at achieving political and economic autonomy. This Irish theatrical Enlightenment was characterized by mobility, tolerance, and the ability to navigate multiple allegiances, with its ambitious participants viewing their loyalty to the Crown and Ireland as complementary rather than conflicting.

This collection of essays responds to recent advancements in eighteenth-century theatre studies, Irish studies, and Enlightenment studies. The essays explore various genres, colonialism, gender, race, music, slavery, and dress, offering fresh perspectives and opening up new avenues for scholarship and research across disciplines. By delving into these topics, the volume contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities and interconnectedness of eighteenth-century society and culture.

Theatre was a crucial forum for the representation of Irish civility and culture for the eighteenth-century English audience. Irish actors and playwrights, operating both as individuals and within networks, were remarkably popular and potent during this period, especially in London. As ideas of Enlightenment percolated throughout Britain and Ireland, Irish theatrical practitioners - actors, managers, playwrights, critics and journalists - exploited a growing receptivity to Irish civility, and advanced a patriot agenda of political and economic autonomy. Mobility, tolerance and the capacity to negotiate multiple allegiances are marked features of this Irish theatrical Enlightenment, whose ambitious participants saw little conflict between their twin loyalties to the Crown and to Ireland.

This collection of essays responds to recent work in the areas of eighteenth-century theatre studies, Irish studies and Enlightenment studies. The volume's discussions of genre, colonialism, gender, race, music, slavery, and dress open up new avenues of scholarship and research across disciplines.

Theatre played a vital role in showcasing the essence of Irish civility and culture to the English audience during the eighteenth century. Irish actors and playwrights, both individually and as part of networks, gained immense popularity and influence, particularly in London. As the ideas of Enlightenment spread across Britain and Ireland, Irish theatrical practitioners capitalized on the growing appreciation for Irish manners and advanced a patriot agenda aimed at achieving political and economic autonomy. This Irish theatrical Enlightenment was characterized by mobility, tolerance, and the ability to navigate multiple allegiances, with its ambitious participants viewing their loyalty to the Crown and Ireland as complementary rather than conflicting.

This collection of essays responds to recent advancements in eighteenth-century theatre studies, Irish studies, and Enlightenment studies. The essays explore various genres, colonialism, gender, race, music, slavery, and dress, offering fresh perspectives and opening up new avenues for scholarship and research across disciplines. By delving into these topics, the volume contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities and interconnectedness of eighteenth-century society and culture.

Weight: 420g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108703154