Book

Staging history : 1780-1840

Burden, Michael, 1960- editor, Heller, Wendy, 1955- editor, Hicks, Jonathan, 1984- editor, Lockhart, Ellen, editor

Overview

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, historical subjects became some of the most popular topics for stage dramas of all kinds on both sides of the Atlantic. This collection of essays examines a number of extraordinary theatrical works in order to cast light on their role in shaping a popular interpretation of historical events. The medium of drama ensured that the telling of these histories - the French Revolution and the American War of Independence, for example, or the travels of Captain Cook and Christopher Columbus - were brought to life through words, music and spectacle. The scale of the productions was often ambitious: a water tank with model floating ships was deployed at Sadler's Wells for the staging of the Siege of Gibraltar, and another production on the same theme used live cannons which set fire to the vessels in each performance.0This illustrated volume, researched and written by experts in the field, explores contemporary theatrical documents (playbills, set designs, musical scores) and images (paintings, prints and illustrations) in seeking to explain what counted as history and historical truth for the writers, performers and audiences of these plays. In doing so it debates the peculiar contradictions of staging history and re-examines some spectacular box office hits. 0Exhibition: Bodleian Library, Oxford, UK (06.10.-23.12.2016).

• Publisher: Bodleian Library
• Subject: Historical drama 18th century History and criticism. / Historical drama 19th century History and criticism. / Theater England History 18th century. / Theater England History 19th century.
• ISBN: 9781851244560, 1851244565

Item info:

1 item available

1 item total in all locations

Holdings :

Call Number	Copies	Material	Location
PN2183.S74 2016	1	BOOK	AUTOSTORE