Use this interactive guide to explore some of these eras with your students. Georgian era Regency era (1714-1780) (1780-1837)
Jacobean era (1603-1642)
Restoration era (1660-1714)
Victorian era (1837-1901)
Elizabethan era (1550-1603)
Telling the story of the movers and shakers, the buildings, the playwrights, Modern era the plays and the audiences that make Edwardian era (1918-1955) (1901-1918) British theatre what it is today.
Order your copy of The Time-Traveller’s Guide to British Theatre at: www.bloomsbury.com Elizabethan era (1550-1603)
Heigh ho! Welcome to the reign of our gracious lady Queen Elizabeth I, a time when the first outdoor theatres are built in London and when William Shakespeare writes his plays. Let’s take a closer look.
1559 1576 1593 1601 Elizabeth The Theatre opens Christopher Hamlet premieres Tudor crowned The first public theatre Marlowe killed Hamlet, the young prince of Born 1533, Elizabeth is the since Roman times opens in Before Shakespeare comes ‘Kit’ Denmark, appears for the first second daughter of Henry Shoreditch, among open fields Marlowe. Young, handsome, time on the stage of the Globe VIII. She reigns for a record outside the City of London Cambridge-educated, he’s the theatre, which opened in 1599. 45 years, dying in 1603. She walls. In the middle of nowhere, most talented and notorious It is William Shakespeare’s is a popular monarch, with it’s a successful open-air playwright of the 1580s. His most famous play, a revenge nicknames such as Good wooden venue run by James reputation is summed up drama, and he is a share-holder Queen Bess, Gloriana and Burbage, an actor-manager in three words: atheist, gay and actor at this venue. In this the Virgin Queen (she never favoured by the Queen. and a spy. But he writes like theatre, with the audience marries). Her public image is Although the authorities are a dream. True to form, his crammed in, some seated, some of a mighty woman, her nervous about mass gatherings biggest hit is Doctor Faustus standing, Shakespeare’s words elaborate dress resplendent of ordinary people, who might (1592), a play about sorcery have a distinctive rhythm that with jewels and fancy ruffs. riot because they’re hungry, the and witchcraft. He is killed in a carry well in the space — a bit During her reign, she sets Theatre is free of regulations: pub brawl in Deptford, stabbed like rap. The wooden Globe up the Protestant Church the London mayor can’t censor through the eye, in mysterious burns down in 1613, when a of England and defeats the the plays. Its open-air shows circumstances: has he been prop canon goes off and starts invasion of the country by mean you can get rained on, murdered by order of powerful a blaze. Three years later, the Catholic Spanish Armada. and, poo, the smells of the enemies who disapprove of his Shakespeare dies. It’s the She loves spectacle, lavish countryside are pongy. The blasphemous lifestyle? end of an era. name comes from the Latin entertainments and is the top Read more from the book: Read more from the book: word theatrum, which means ‘a patron of theatre. pages 18-21 pages 25-36 place where you see things’. Read more from the book: pages 4-5 Read more from the book: pages 10-13 Jacobean era (1603-1642)
Hail! Welcome to the reign of King James I of England a time when candle-lit intimate indoor venues join the outdoor theatres — and a golden age of playwriting. Some 20,000 Londoners visit a theatre every week despite the constant threat of the plague. Come with me.
1603 1606 1608 1642 James becomes king Ben Jonson’s Blackfriars Theatres close down When Queen Elizabeth dies Volpone opens theatre opens During the English Civil War, a at the age of 69, she has no One of the great playwrights The winter of 1608 is so cold bloody conflict which lasts from children so the crown passes of his time, Ben Jonson is a that the Thames freezes over, 1642 to 1651 and results in king to 36-year-old James VI, king self-taught scholar with the with ice thick enough for Charles I, son of James I, being of Scotland and the son of biggest and most quarrelsome lively fairs to be held on it, so executed in 1649, the Puritan Elizabeth’s cousin and deadly ego in the business. His biggest outdoor theatres are a no no. zealots who fight against the rival Mary Queen of Scots. He hit is Volpone, which opens at Richard Burbage, an actor who corrupt royals gain control of becomes the first king James the Globe theatre. Although plays the lead in many dramas the city of London. Because of England, lending his name it’s set in Venice, the real target by Shakespeare, has ambitions they disapprove of frivolous to the age (Jacobean comes of its barbs is the merchant to also be a great manager. entertainments, especially from Jacobus, which is Latin class of London, who he attacks His answer to cold weather is theatre, they pass a law to for James). He unites the for being greedy and lustful. to create an indoor theatre. close down venues all over the two kingdoms of England and The play is full of rogues with The result is the Blackfriars, a country. The theatres go dark Scotland. He’s a great patron of Italian animal names: Volpone large room lit with dozens of for a record 18 years. the arts. (fox), Mosca (house fly), Voltore tallow candles (made of animal Read more from the book: Read more from the book: (vulture) and Corvino (crow) — fat) that give the place an pages 57, 62 pages 39-40 these give you a good idea of intimate and magical feel. their characters. Read more from the book: Read more from the book: pages 49-54 pages 41-45 Restoration era (1660-1714)
Good morrow gentlefolk! Hurray, we have got rid of the religious bigots and now women are allowed to act for the first time. I myself was one of them, and so I can guide you through the theatre of the age of Charles II. Follow me!
1660 1666 1677 1700 Monarchy restored Great Fire Aphra Behn’s William Congreve’s Following the death of Oliver of London The Rover opens The Way of the Cromwell, a puritan republican On Sunday 2 September a fire Aphra Behn is the first female World opens who ruled after the execution starts in a Pudding Lane bakery playwright and the first British William Congreve’s The Way of of king Charles I, the monarchy and soon spreads across the woman to earn her living from the World is the best rom-com is restored and Charles II City of London. Because the writing. Born in Kent, brought of the Restoration era. It tells returns from exile to claim his houses are made of wood and up in Surinam, South America, the story of the love affair crown. Charles is the people’s there is no fire brigade, the she returns to Europe and works between Mirabell, a fashionable king, a sharp dresser, young, mighty conflagration rages for as a spy in the Netherlands for young man, and Millimant, a fun-loving (his byname is The 4 days and destroys 13,200 Charles II. Back in London, she young lady. Because arranged Merry Monarch!) and keen houses and 87 churches, is thrown in prison for debt, marriages are the norm for on the arts, and even keener including St Paul’s cathedral. which motivates her to take up rich folk, the couple have on actresses! Although he The City is gutted, but London’s her pen. Her biggest stage hit is to convince her aunt, Lady is married, he has several main indoor venue, the Theatre The Rover, about the amorous Wishfort, who has her own mistresses. The most famous Royal Drury Lane, built in 1663, adventures of a group of ideas about a good match is Nell Gwyn, who begins miraculously survives because royalists — she is concerned with for her niece. her career selling oranges it is just outside the the role of women in society, but Read more from the book: in theatres, then captivates burnt-out area. writes in the bawdy Restoration pages 95-98 audiences on stage. Read more from the book: style. And her female characters Read more from the book: pages 77-80 get all the best lines. pages 71-73 Read more from the book: pages 86-88 Georgian era (1714-1780)
Salutations! A proper lord am I, a real toff with a country pile and a townhouse, and it’s my pleasure to show you around Georgian England, a time when for more than 100 years, 4 kings called George ruled the land.
1714 1728 1769 1773 George I John Gay’s David Garrick Oliver Goldsmith’s becomes king The Beggar’s Opera popularizes She Stoops To The first George doesn’t speak opens Shakespeare Conquer opens English since he comes from John Gay’s ballad opera is sung David Garrick, the mega-star Writer Oliver Goldsmith is Hanover in Germany: he is in English, and goes viral among actor of the century, not only a great talker, despite his offered the throne because new audiences. Inspired by the plays Shakesperean parts on stammer, but uneasy with he is the closest Protestant real-life story of master criminal stage, but also rewrites the women, and a debt-ridden relation of the late Queen Jack Sheppard, it is set in bard. Garrick modernizes gambler. His play, She Stoops To Anne. He’s wooden and shy in Newgate, London’s chief prison, the text of 22 Shakespeare Conquer, is instantly recognised manner, and is not particularly and depicts the life and loves plays, and holds a Jubilee as brilliant. The story is one of liked by the people, who of Macheath, a highwayman to celebrate at Stratford- mistaken identities and farcical see him as aloof. Because he who manages to escape the upon-Avon, slightly too late confusion, a warmhearted doesn’t understand English noose after being grassed up for the 200th anniversary of comedy of manners that is very well, he’s not very keen on by two whores. Gay originally Shakespeare’s birth in 1564. He also a theatre manifesto: true drama, but he loves music. wanted to punish Macheath makes Stratford a new tourist comedy, aptly called Laughing Read more from book: but, by popular demand, gave destination. Comedy, is about ordinary pages 104-105 his musical a happy ending. Read more from book: people, not aristocrats, and real One year later, artist William pages 123 -125 down-to-earth humour. From Hogarth paints scenes from it, now on, British theatre is not which shows how popular it is. afraid to be raucously funny. Read more from book: Read more from book: page 127 pages 129-131 Regency era (1780-1837)
Give me leave to introduce myself to you: I was once a Jamaican plantation slave and then I got my freedom and more: I’m now a man about town, a person of means; I hang out in fashionable society and I know everybody who is anybody in the theatre. But I haven’t forgotten my people and I still fight to abolish slavery.
1787 1808 1814 1833 A prince builds Theatre riots Edmund Kean Ira Aldridge a pavilion This is an age of fires and makes his debut plays Othello Prince George, who is the riots. When the Covent Edmund Kean is the greatest Ira Aldridge is the first black oldest son of king George Garden theatre burns down, star of the Regency era. He’s actor to perform in Britain. Born III, builds the Brighton its manager, actor John Philip a small man with a big chip on in New York, son of a church Pavilion, a wonderfully ornate Kemble, rebuilds the venue his shoulder due to his humble minister, Aldridge leaves America pleasure palace that fits his and raises ticket prices. This origins. But on stage he has an for London to escape the racial lavish lifestyle. He is young, move antagonises audiences, amazing energy: his performances discrimination which deprives extravagant and a fashion icon. so when he appears on stage are incredibly intense. They him of the best Shakespearean Along with the influencer Beau as Macbeth, dressed in a tartan appeal especially to the Romantic roles. At the age of 26, he plays Brummell, he pioneers the kilt, they boo, hiss and wail. poets such as Lord Byron and Othello at the Covent Garden wearing of full-length trousers, A protest movement, calling Samuel Coleridge. During one theatre in London. But he only linen shirts and elaborate for a return to the lower old show, Byron has a convulsive fit lasts two nights because the cravats. prices, is formed and noisy while watching Kean; Coleridge critics object to him sharing the disruption of shows go on for 67 Read more from the book: says his acting style is ‘like reading stage with the white actress nights. Eventually Kemble gives pages 142-143 Shakespeare by flashes of playing Desdemona, Othello’s in — the old ticket prices are lightning’. A scandal about his love wife. So Aldridge emigrates to restored. Hurray! affair with a married woman ends Europe, where he is a big hit in Read more from the book: his glorious career. Germany and Russia. pages 156–157 Read more from the book: Read more from the book: pages 167-168. pages 153-154 Victorian era (1837-1901)
Hello! I may be young, but I’m very well connected — my patrons take me to see plenty of shows, which I just lurve! If I think that I grew up in a workhouse, fighting off lice, I have to pinch myself. I’ve come a long way. Follow me.
1840 1852 1853 1895 Victoria The first music hall Charles Dickens Oscar Wilde’s The marries Albert While respectable theatres performs Importance of Being Victoria, who becomes queen flourish, putting on sedate A Christmas Carol Earnest opens in 1837, marries her German shows for middle-class The first public reading by Playwright and novelist Oscar cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe- audiences, a new type of novelist Charles Dickens of Wilde is the darling of society Coburg and Gotha. They are theatre is invented for popular his popular book A Christmas in the Naughty Nineties. He this era’s power couple — the consumption — the music hall. Carol takes place at City Hall, dresses flamboyantly, with super royals, envied by all of Pub owner Charles Morton Birmingham, to an audience of long hair and extravagant Europe because they married opens the Canterbury Hall, the 2,000. He stands at a lectern, buttonholes and vivid for love, and share the same first purpose-built music hall, surrounded by black screens, waistcoats. He is well known tastes. Albert is a great ideas next to his Canterbury Tavern on an empty stage; he wears for his witty epigrams and man: in 1851 his pet project, in Lambeth, south London. The evening dress with a bright putdowns, and he fills his the Great Exhibition, opens. It formula is so successful that it’s buttonhole, purple waistcoat plays with clever remarks. His is an expo featuring the latest copied all over the country. and gold watch chain. He masterpiece is The Importance British innovation, ingenuity and Read more from the book: recites the tale of Scrooge with of Being Earnest, subtitled engineering, held at the Crystal pages 194-196 immense skill, using different ‘A trivial comedy for serious Palace in London’s Hyde voices for the characters and people’, a satire of social Park, a pop-up venue of great dramatic pauses. conventions which revolves magnificence. Read more from the book: around questions of identity Read more from the book: pages 190-192 and parenthood. pages 174-176 Read more from the book: pages 208-213 Edwardian era (1901-1918)
Welcome all. I’m a bit out of breath because I’ve just arrived on my new tricycle. I’m an independent woman, working as an interior designer and I have my own rented flat. I’m all in favour of Votes for Women, and very keen on the latest theatre.
1901 1907 1907 1914 Edward VII is king The Playboy riots Elizabeth Robins’s George Bernard Queen Victoria dies and her John Millington Synge is one Votes for Women! Shaw’s Pygmalion least favourite son succeeds of Ireland’s foremost modern opens opens her as Edward VII. Overweight, playwrights. His best drama, Elizabeth Robins is an American George Bernard Shaw is a bearded and cigar-smoking, The Playboy of the Western actress who arrives in London theatrical superman, the he spends his time in leisure World, opens in 1907 at the after the death of her husband. principal playwright and most activities rather than attending Abbey Theatre in Dublin, a She is a strong woman so when acute critic of the age. Born in to serious matters of state. venue which promotes the Irish George Bernard Shaw makes a Dublin, he is tall, thin, with a Above all, he loves the theatre literary revival and gradually pass at her she pulls out a gun. long bony face, and when he and hanging out with attractive becomes that country’s national Among her stage triumphs are enters a room he is instantly actresses, such as Lily Langtry. theatre. Set in rural Ireland, the heroines of Henrik Ibsen’s recognizable because he But when he becomes king he the play concerns a young man plays, which question the role gesticulates a lot and wears shakes off his playboy lifestyle who boasts of killing his father. of women in marriage. Her play unconventional tweed clothes. and gradually becomes a On the opening night, the Votes for Women! is staged His masterpiece is Pygmalion, symbol of stability in a divided audience is increasingly uneasy at London’s Court Theatre, which shows how a pompous nation. about the disrespect shown to a venue which specializes in professor can turn a Covent Read more from the book: the older man, and then, when relevant and radical drama. Garden flower girl into a lady. page 218 one of the character’s takes off her petticoat to be used by Read more from the book: Read more from the book: pages 226-227 pages 234-243 the youngster as a disguise the audience rebels. Read more from the book: pages 251-252 Modern era (1918-1955)
Good day. I’m a valet, a gentleman’s gentleman, to a well- known aristocrat, and I prefer to be called by my surname, which is Roberts. I grew up in the suburbs of London and I’m a theatre fan. I get his gossip from The Stage newspaper.
1918 1930 1940 1953 First World War ends Noël Coward’s Laurence Olivier Elizabeth II Armistice Day, the end of the Private Lives opens marries Vivien Leigh crowned First World War, is 11 November Noël Coward comes from Laurence Olivier is a celebrity Princess Elizabeth is the eldest 1918, and Britain is part of the a background of genteel mega-star. He married actress child of king George VI, who victorious side in the war so suburban poverty, he soon Vivien Leigh in 1940, after the had to get treatment for his there is a victory parade on discovers a talent to amuse. He couple had been having an stammer and successfully 19 July 1919, which marks the takes dancing lessons and, at affair for three years (they are overcame it, and Queen formal end of hostilities. A age 11, he makes his debut in a both married to other people) Elizabeth (later the Queen wood-and-plaster cenotaph is kid’s play. He composes witty and they become theatre’s Mother). When her father dies built in London’s Whitehall, a songs for music halls and soon power couple. Olivier and in 1952, she becomes queen temporary monument which creates shows for the jazz-mad Leigh go on to perform many of while on a tour of Kenya with is replaced by a proper stone dance-crazy Roaring Twenties. Shakespeare’s plays together. In her husband Prince Philip. memorial in 1920. His breakthrough play is The 1937, Olivier leads the company She was crowned on 2 June Read more from the book: Vortex, in 1924, but his best of London’s Old Vic, and he 1953, when the ceremony was pages 259-260, 264-265 piece is Private Lives, which plays Hamlet, giving the role a broadcast on television he writes during one sleepless Freudian Oedipal twist. for the first time. night while touring at the Read more from the book: Read more from the book: Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. pages 274-279 pages 294-295 Read more from the book: pages 267-274
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