1: The Cambridge History of British Theatre: Volume 1

Cambridge University Press, 3/12/2015
EAN 9781107497078, ISBN10: 1107497078

Paperback, 572 pages, 22.8 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm
Language: English

Volume 1 of The Cambridge History of British Theatre begins in Roman Britain and ends with Charles II's restoration to the throne imminent. The four essays in Part I treat pre-Elizabethan theatre, the eight in Part II focus on the riches of the Elizabethan era, and the seven in Part III on theatrical developments during and after the reigns of James I and Charles I. The essays are written for the general reader by leading British and American scholars, who combine an interest in the written drama with an understanding of the material conditions of the evolving professional theatre which the drama helped to sustain, often enough against formidable odds. The volume unfolds a story of enterprise, innovation and, sometimes, of desperate survival over years in which theatre and drama were necessarily embroiled in the politics of everyday life: a vivid subject vividly presented.

General preface
Chronology
Part I. Pre-Elizabethan Theatre
1. From Roman to Renaissance in drama and theatre John C. Coldewey
2. Faith, pastime, performance and drama in Scotland to 1603 John J. McGavin
3. The Bible as play in Reformation England Paul Whitfield White
4. Drama in 1553
continuity and change Peter Happé
Part II. Elizabethan Theatre
5. The development of a professional theatre, 1540–1660 Jane Milling
6. Drama outside London after 1540 Peter H. Greenfield
7. 'An example of courtesy and liberality'
great households and performance Suzanne Westfall
8. The birth of an industry Douglas Bruster
9. Theatre and controversy, 1572–1603 Diana E. Henderson
10. The condition of theatre in England in 1599 Andrew Gurr
11. Ben Jonson's Every Man in his Humour
a case study Richard Allen Cave
12. London professional playhouses and performances Martin White
Part III. Jacobean and Caroline Theatre
13. Working playwrights, 1580–1642 Roslyn L. Knutson
14. Theatre and controversy, 1603–42 Janette Dillon
15. The Stuart masque and its makers David Lindley
16. Clowns, fools and knaves
stages in the evolution of acting Peter Thomson
17. Thomas Middleton's A Game at Chess
a case study Richard Dutton
18. The condition of the theatres in 1642 Martin Butler
19. Theatre and Commonwealth Janet Clare
Works cited
Index.