The Censorship of Eighteenth-Century Theatre: Playhouses and Prohibition, 1737-1843

The Stage Licensing Act of 1737 had a significant impact on literary and theatrical culture in Georgian Britain, with chapters covering a wide variety of theatrical genres and exploring the effects of formal and informal censorship. Theatre archives are a valuable resource for historical research.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 17 August 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This collection delves into the profound impact of the Stage Licensing Act of 1737 on literary and theatrical culture in Georgian Britain. It explores the diverse motivations behind state censorship of public performances of plays following this act and until the Theatres Act of 1843. Spanning a century, the chapters cover a wide range of theatrical genres and shed light on the mechanisms of formal censorship under the supervision of the Lord Chamberlain's Examiner of Plays. Additionally, they examine the effects of informal censorship, where playwrights, audiences, and managers internalized the censorship regime. By expanding beyond a mere focus on erasures and emendations visible in manuscripts, the volume reveals the far-reaching significance of censorship throughout the long eighteenth century. Furthermore, this collection showcases the remarkable value of theatre archives as a resource for historical research, making it an invaluable resource for scholars interested in the evolving complexities of Georgian society, politics, and mores.

ISBN-13: 9781108496254