Theatre History

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Category Description:
 

Theatrical history is a fascinating topic and covers everything from traditional British pantomimes and puppet shows like Punch and Judy to Elizabethan theatre, mystery plays and music hall. Many regional theatres have collected archives of playbills, programmes and posters, some featuring well known actors before they became famous.

The history of theatre also attracts serious academic study with colleges offering degrees in the subject.

  • Backstage  - Point of entry for finding and searching performing arts collections in the UK. Gives the project background, the scope, and advice on how to search the database.
  • Footlight Notes  - Images of theatre and other popular entertainment1850s-1920s.
  • Frank Matcham Society  - Dedicated to the memory of a prolific theatre architect; includes a biography, and galleries of some of his surviving buildings, with details of membership, news, and activities.
  • Globe Theatre History  - Resource provided by the Globe Theatre with timelines, biography of James Burbage, and pages on the actors, Elizabethan theatre, and the audiences.
  • The Golden Age of Theatre (1880 – 1920)  - Presents illustrated biographies of major British actors during the early years of the nineteenth century.
  • Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust  - A charity formed to preserve a famous theatre which closed in 1977 and to campaign and support its full restoration. Includes a history, and news of their project.
  • Old Theatres  - Aims to preserve old British theatres from destruction. Includes details of their magazine and book about old theatres in the Midlands.
  • Playbills of the Theatre Royal Edinburgh  - Digitized selection of over 240 playbills used to advertise performances and events. The selection was from originals in the collection of the National Library of Scotland.
  • The Society for Theatre Research  - Informing those interested in the history and technique of the British theatre; with news, publications, research resources and awards, and events.
  • Stage Beauty  - Focussed on the female stars from the golden age of English theatre such as Sarah Bernhardt and Clara Butt. Includes biographies and images, lists of historic theatres and old theatre productions.
  • Theatre Museum  - A guide to the collections now held at the Victoria and Albert Museum; includes information about exhibitions and events, articles and resources on British theatre history, and background on the closure of the former Covent Garden museum.
  • The V&A Theatre Collections Online  - Provides access to information and materials celebrating the UK’s performance heritage. Includes specific subjects, collection details, research and exhibitions information.
 
 
 
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