Cambridge University Press New Readings in Theatre History (Theatre and Performance Theory)

Over the last two hundred years some important ways of understanding theatre history have been undervalued or ignored by scholars. Leading theatre historian Jacky Bratton employs new approaches to examine and challenge this development and to discover how theatre history has been chronicled and how it is interpreted. Using a series of case studies from nineteenth-century British theatre, Bratton examines the difference between the existence of 'the drama' (plays and play literature) and 'the stage' (performance, theatre building, and attendance). By rejecting literary history, Bratton experiments with other ways of analysing the past, and the ways that have actually seemed relevant to the people on stage. This book suggests new histories: of theatrical story-telling, of performing families, and of the disregarded dramatic energy of Victorian entertainment. As a result, we gain a new perspective on theatre history, not only for the Romantic and Victorian periods, but for the discipline overall. Review 'It is an impressive and progressive post-modern peroration and the excellence of its provocative energy should propel readers of all stamps towards a revitalised relish of the stage and all its traffic.' The Times Higher Education Supplement'When a scholar as distinguished as Jacky Bratton expresses doubts about the health of theatre history as an academic discipline, attention must be paid.' Journal of Theatre Research International'I can't understand why this book hasn't been more loudly celebrated. It mixes challenge with delight to a quite uncommon degree, is scholarly without ever being pompous or obscure and is beautifully written.' Studies in Theatre and Performance'This book achieves all the author sets out for herself. It is a radical rethinking of how we make and disseminate our theatre histories. For the scholar of the nineteenth-century theatre, it will surely be a field-changing volume. Professor Bratton has undoubtedly raised the bar for how we uncover, narrate, and theorise evidence of theatrical activity in this period. The questions she poses are both important and complex, and our attempts to address them will undoubtedly invigorate academic practice and debate.' Nineteenth Century Theatre and Film Book Description The history of the British stage retold from a different perspective. About the Author Jacky Bratton is Professor of Theatre and Cultural History at Royal Holloway, University of London.