British Theatre in the 1890s: Essays on Drama and the Stage

The final decade of the nineteenth century was one of the most exciting and productive in the history of the British theatre. In this fascinating collection, twelve leading scholars examine the playwrights, actors, designers and theatrical environment of the period. As well as shedding light on such familiar figures as Pinero, H.A. Jones, Beerbohm Tree and Mrs Patrick Campbell, much of the hitherto neglected activity of the period is explored including toga plays, painting and the theatre, theatre architecture and travelling theatres. The volatile issue of indecency and the music hall is also explored and the question of the immorality of the stage is analysed as a recurring theme of the decade. The volume contains numerous illustrations from the period and will be of interest to students and specialists of drama, theatre and social history and British literature.