London theatre closure 1642
On September 2, 1642, just after the First English Civil War had begun, the Long Parliament ordered the closure of all London theatres. The order cited the current "times of humiliation" and their incompatibility with "public stage-plays", representative of "lascivious Mirth and Levity".[1] The ban, which was not completely effective, was reinforced by an Act of 11 February 1648, at the beginning of the Second Civil War. It provided for the treatment of actors as rogues, the demolition of theatre seating, and fines for spectators.[1]
On 24 January 1643, the actors pleaded with Parliament to reopen the theatres by writing a pamphlet called 'The Actors remonstrance or complaint for the silencing of their profession, and banishment from their severall play-houses', in which they state, "wee have purged our stages of all obscene and scurrilous jests."[2][3]
In 1660, after the English Restoration brought King Charles II to effective power in England, the theatrical ban was lifted. Under a new licensing system, two London theatres with royal patents were opened: the King's Company and the Duke's Company.[4]
Details of orders:
- 2 September 1642: Order for Stage-plays to cease[5][6]
- 22 October 1647: An Ordinance for the Lord Major and City of London, and the Justices of Peace to suppress Stage-playes and Interludes.[7][8]
- 11 February 1648: An Ordinance for the utter suppression and abolishing of all Stage-Plays and Interludes, within the Penalties to be inflicted on the Actors and Spectators therein expressed[9][10]
See also
- King's Men § Aftermath for the history of one company affected by the prohibition
- William Robbins (actor) an actor who lost his living, and fought and died for the Royalist cause.
- Antitheatricality 16th and 17th century
- The Cambridge History of British Theatre from Roman colony origins through the twentieth century.
Notes
- ^ a b Jane Milling; Peter Thomson (2004). The Cambridge History of British Theatre. Cambridge University Press. pp. 439, 459. ISBN 978-0521650403.
- ^ The Actors remonstrance or complaint for the silencing of their profession and banishment from their severall play-houses in which is fully set downe their grievances for their restraint ... As it was presented in the names and behalfes of all our London comedians ... And published by their command in print by the Typograph Royall of the Castalian Province, 1643.
- ^ "The Actors remonstrance or complaint for the silencing for their profession, and banishment from their severall play-houses". Eighteenth Century Collections Online. 24 January 1643.
- ^ Brian Corman (2013). The Broadview Anthology of Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Comedy. Broadview Press. p. ix. ISBN 978-1770482999.
- ^ "September 1642: Order for Stage-plays to cease. | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "September 1642: Order for Stage-plays to cease. | British History Online". 22 October 2021. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "October 1647: An Ordinance for the Lord Major and City of London, and the Justices of Peace to suppress Stage-playes and Interludes. | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "October 1647: An Ordinance for the Lord Major and City of London, and the Justices of Peace to suppress Stage-playes and Interludes. | British History Online". 8 August 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "February 1648: An Ordinance for the utter suppression and abolishing of all Stage-Plays and Interludes, within the Penalties to be inflicted on the Actors and Spectators therein expressed | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "February 1648: An Ordinance for the utter suppression and abolishing of all Stage-Plays and Interludes, within the Penalties to be inflicted on the Actors and Spectators therein expressed | British History Online". 22 October 2021. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.