Theatre. A building or outdoor area in which plays and other dramatic performances are given or the activity or profession of acting in, producing, directing, or writing plays. This became a flourishing activity in the 1900’s.

During the winter, in the Victorian era, there were only two theatres that were allowed to put on plays in London, the Covent Garden and Drury Lane. These theatres were also home to several other activities as well a drama, such as lion taming and horseback battles. Eventually, only two theatres became too small and theatre expansion began. Some smaller theatres, with a special license, were allowed to put on plays with music.

Auditoriums became a place of gathering and socializing, and nights could last up to 5 hours long. The night’s excitement evolved due to the development of the actors gestures, speech, and music. Eventually, laws changed so that theatres could stray from musicals, in hopes of civilizing the citizens and playwriters pieces. From there, Victorian theatre took off, growing all around England. Technology growth added to the intensity of the plays and how they affected the audience. To attract an upper class audience, auditoriums were built with separate entrances to each section so the upper class did not have to mingle with lower class guests.

Drury Lane Theatre

Costumes:

Costumes often related to social status, so if you were playing the role of a king or queen in a Victorian play, you would be wearing expensive material, jewels, glamorous accessories, etc. There were also wigs and makeup available to all actors.

Costume for Elizabeth I in Benjamin Britten’s opera ‘Gloriana’, designed by Alix Stone

Plays and Playwriters in the Victorian Era

August Von Kotzebue

• Misanthropy and Repentance

Charles Dickens

• A Christmas Carol
• Oliver Twist

Douglas Jerrold

• Black Eyed Susan

Oscar Wilde

Links used:

http://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/19th-century-

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/uploads/files/2014/01/costumes_cosmetics.pdf

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/theatre

Picture links:

http://www.angelpig.net/victorian/theatre.html

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/r/reflecting-historical-periods-in-stage-costume/

 http://logicmgmt.com/1876/Victorian_theatre/Victorian_theatre_society.htmvv