The making of the West End stage : marriage, management and the mapping of gender in London, 1830-1870 / Jacky Bratton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bratton, J. S. (Jacqueline S.)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Theater--England--London--History--19th century.

Theater.

Theater management.

History.

Women in the theater.

England--London.

Women in the theater--England--London--History--19th century.

Theater management--England--London--History--19th century.

West End (London, England)--History.

West End (London, England).

Physical Description:

vii, 222 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, UK ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Summary:

"All roads lead to London - and to the West End theatre. This book presents a new history of the beginnings of the modern world of London entertainment. Putting female-centred, gender-challenging managements and styles at the centre, it redraws the map of performance history in the Victorian capital of the world. Bratton argues for the importance in Victorian culture of venues like the little Strand Theatre and the Gallery of Illustration in Regent Street in the experience of mid-century London, and of plays drawn from the work of Charles Dickens as well as burlesques by the early writers of Punch. Discovering a much more dynamic and often woman-led entertainment industry at the heart of the British Empire, this book seeks a new understanding of the work of women including Eliza Vestris, Mary Ann Keeley and Marie Wilton in creating the template for a magical new theatre of music, feeling and spectacle"--Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: Introduction

Mapping. Why the West End?

The Era: hierarchies, seriousness and the organ of the profession

Bohemian domesticity: the city of the mind

Making. Performing the crisis

The shaping of West End management

Showtime

Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780521519014

0521519012

OCLC:

725827687

Online:

Cover image