Theatre History
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The Magic of Pantomime
"He's behind you, oh no he isn't, oh yes he is!" Familiar shouts heard during a family outing to a pantomime, which for many is part of the Christmas festivities.
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A Potted Biography of Constantin Stanislavski
A brief summary of the life of the Russian actor and director who formulated the actor training 'system' at the heart of most modern western theatre and cinema.
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A Potted Biography of Edward Gordon Craig
Edward Gordon Craig was born into the theatre and transformed it with his ideas on set, costume and lighting design, despite being very difficult to work with.
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A Potted Biography of Antonin Artaud
Artaud spent most of his life in asylums and never had a successful production in his lifetime but was one of the most influential figures on twentieth century culture.
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Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol
The early 20th century venue was famous for its gruesome scenes of violence, but comedies and dramas were also common fare.
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Raisin In The Sun Celebrates 50 years.
On March 11th 1959 Raisin In The Sun opened at Broadway's Ethel Barrymore theatre. It was a landmark moment for its writer and the African American community.
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Maxine Elliott, Stage Star of the Last Century
It was said that she was a restless little girl who wanted something good for herself . She succeeded in having a great career, her own theatre and a million dollars.
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Sophocles: Antigone
Sophocles' lasting influence on drama can't be overstated. His plays based on the life of Oedipus are arguably the finest of Ancient Greek theatre.
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Theatre Royal Drury Lane and London Palladium
With summer holidays fast approaching it's time to plan interesting days out. Apply now for free back-stage tours of two of London's most iconic and historic theatres.
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History of Australian Children's Theatre
Children's theatre in Australia is less than forty years old, but has developed steadily over time to provide a small base of children's theatre companies today.
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A History of Pantomime
One of the most unusual genres of the entertainment world is pantomime. Mimes imitate, recreate and invent expressions and characters easily identifiable by audiences.
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The Art and History of Pantomime
One of the most unusual genres of the entertainment world is pantomime. Mimes imitate, recreate and invent expressions and characters easily identifiable by audiences.
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The Shakespeare Identity and Authorship Problem
The man commonly known as the world's greatest playwright may have been a hoax. Discover why.
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Edward Bernays and the Theatre
Edward Bernays, one of the pioneers of the public relations industry, found his first real success in 1913 while promoting a drama with a cause.
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The History of Shadow Theatre
Shadow plays depict fantastic stories of folklore and mythology, but their stories of origin are equally fascinating as they are vastly differing.
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William Poel's Explorations of Hamlet
William Poel's interest in Shakespeare's texts coincided with the publication by William Griggs of facsimile copies of the First and Second Quartos of Hamlet in 1880.
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The Origins of Victorian Theatrical Spectacle
The English theatre of the Victorian age remains notorious in the annals of theatre history for its excesses in production, but this extravagance has historical roots.
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Aphra Behn: Female Restoration Playwright
Aphra Behn is considered the first professional Western woman writer and the first woman to have earned a living by pen and paper.
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Texas Renaissance Festival is Live Theatre
The Texas Renaissance Festival in Plantersville is acclaimed as great entertainment. The Ren-Faire offers eight weekends of fun October 11 - November 30, 2008.
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North Carolina Renaissance Festival Huntersville
Fairhaven opens the fall fantasy festival weekends October 4 - November 16, 2008. Medieval characters stroll recreated 16th century lanes for interactive outdoor theater.
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Oberammergau Passion Play
The first Passion Play (Passionsspiele) took place in Oberammergau in Bavaria, Germany in 1634 and the 41st performance is scheduled for 2010.
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Theatre Retains Tampa, Florida's Past
Tucked away in downtown Tampa, the Tampa Theatre has the distinction of being one of the city's oldest and most prized landmarks.
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The Elizabethan Swan Theatre
Elizabethan London's largest theatre began life as a competitor for Bankside's only other theatre, the Rose. Now it offers an interior glimpse into Shakespearean drama.
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London's Haunted Theatres
From Sadler's Wells Theatre in Islington to the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, ghosts have been seen and heard, but the most haunted is the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
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London's Royal Opera House
There is a rich history of three centuries of theater on this site in the heart of London.
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The Elizabethan "University Wits"
A group of English playwrights, collectively known as the University Wits, transformed popular drama during the Elizabethan era.
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Webster's Women
A look at Websiter's portrayal of Vittoria Corombona in the first act of "The White Devil." (A' level set text).
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Biography of Deborah Kerr — The English Rose
Deborah Kerr, nicknamed "The English Rose" died in October 2007. She leaves a magnificent contribution to English, European and American film and theatre history.
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Biography of Singer Marni Nixon
Marni Nixon, "The Ghostess with the Mostess" or "The Voice of Hollywood" was the singing voice behind many well-known actresses.
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Dame Judi Dench DBE
Only a few talented individuals have made the step up from being a good actor to being a great actor, and Dame Judi Dench is one of those few.
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The Astaires in London
Noel Coward predicted that fame and fortune awaited the Astaires in London, and he was right. Fred and Adele charmed the British nation completely in the 1920s.
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Who Was Binkie Beaumont?
For forty years, West End theatre was dominated by a remarkable character who shied away from self-publicity: Binkie Beaumont of 'HM Tennents'.
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The Triumph of Binkie Beaumont
Mr HM Tennent's death in 1941 propelled Binkie to huge influence in Briish theatre.
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Promenade Concerts after 1950
The Promenade Concerts fondly known as "the Proms" were established more than 100 years ago are a great British tradition with a truly international flavour.
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Promenade Concerts before 1950
When the first Promenade Concert took place in August 1895 few realised that a musical tradition had been established. It continues to grow more than 100 years later.
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The Revenger's Tragedy Film
A cast including Eddie Izzard, Christopher Ecclestone and Derek Jacobi camp and snarl their way through Middleton's violent and satirical revenge tragedy.
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Poison and Catholicism
A look at the poison plots in Renaissance revenge drama shows their involvement with anti-Catholic thought.
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Jonson's Comedies
Writing at the same time as Shakespeare, Ben Jonson developed his own comic style, relying on observation and satire over fantasy and romance.
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Ben Jonson's The Alchemist
The most popular of Jonson's comedies, "The Alchemist" is still regularly performed today. But its appeal lies in more than simple speed and verbal dexterity.
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Revenge Tragedies
When Elizabethan playwrights found the public loved gruesome tales of revenge, they embarked on a new genre. And it became a monster...
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Ellen Terry
The queen of English Victorian theatre, Ellen Terry, was a child star under the tutelage of Charles Kean, a key member of a burgeoning dynasty of actors, and a romantic.
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Robert Walpole: British Censorship
Robert Walpole was powerful enough to excite many satirists, but also to punish them. Here's how one politician changed the course of theatre history in the UK.
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'Straight Face' by Nigel Hawthorne
Nigel Hawthorne's autobiography reveals a down-to-earth actor prepared to work diligently towards success.
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Dame Margaret Rutherford
Although emotionally fragile and eccentric, the sweet-natured actress delighted audiences as Madame Arcati and Miss Marple through her heyday of the 1960s.
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Young Margaret Rutherford
Rutherford's personal background was tragic and her entry to the acting profession was inauspicious.
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Canadian Theatre History Books
Not many studies of Canadian theatre history have been written - yet. Here's an overview of some of the best.
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