Synopses & Reviews
Civic theater (drama and pageantry sponsored by city and town governing bodies) is prominently featured in histories of early English provincial drama, but largely ignored in those of pre-Elizabethan London. Anne Lancashire explodes the widely-held notion that significant London theater arose jnly in Shakespeare's era, when the first commercial playhouses were built. She presents a rich panorama of civic theatrical life in London before 1558 that includes Roman amphitheater shows, medieval and Tudor mummings, street pjgeantry and plays.
Review
"An extraordinary book on London theater before Shakespeare." Bibliotheque d'Humanisme et Renaissance
Synopsis
Civic theatre - drama and pageantry sponsored by city and town governing bodies - has been largely ignored in histories of pre-Elizabethan London. Anne Lancashire provides a rich picture of civic theatrical life in London before 1558: from Roman amphitheatre shows to medieval and Tudor mummings, street pageantry, and plays.
Synopsis
Rich picture of civic theatrical life in London, from Roman amphitheatre shows to Tudor pageantry.
About the Author
Anne Lancashire is Professor of English at the University of Toronto. She has edited the texts of John Lyly's Gallathea and Midas, of The Second Maiden's Tragedy (attributed to Thomas Middleton), and of Clifford Leech's Christopher Marlowe: Poet for the Stage, and has published numerous articles and essays, and given many conference papers and public lectures on medieval and early modern theatre and drama.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Company designations; London Mayors and Sheriffs; Transcription Practices; Introduction; Part I. From Roman Times to 1410: 1. Roman London; 2. London c. 410-1200; 3. London 1200-1410; Part II. From 1410 to 1558: 4. Company hall plays: performance records; 5. Company hall plays: types and performers; 6. Civic theatre and John Lydgate; 7. Land entries; 8. Water shows; 9. The Midsummer Watch; 10. The Lord Mayor's Show; Appendices: Appendix A. Royals and other entries 1400-1558; Appendix B. Selected civic records.