The response of London theatre to various social and economic circumstances (1890-1914)

Abstract

This thesis aims to present a broad view of some of the social and economic problems facing both theatre and society during the period 1890-1914. Focussing on London as an example of an area of intense theatre activity, such aspects of theatre as production, finance, construction, composition and censorship are explored in an attempt to discover changes from previous periods and what particularly characterised London theatre at this time. The role of the middle class in the development of modern British theatre was emphasized because of the greater amount of material available.