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Under the new Theatres Act of 1843, the patent system in Britain was abolished, allowing for the rise of popular entertainment venues, such as music halls and saloons. A variety of hugely popular theatrical art forms developed throughout the nineteenth century, including pantomime, melodrama, burlesque, and the traditional society play. This guide explores the styles and history of these genres, along with key practitioners and playwrights from the era.

Terminology

• Ballad opera: a type of comic opera originating in the 18th century.
• Burlesque: a short piece of drama or musical interlude that parodied a serious piece of dramatic literature.
• Melodrama: a popular form of entertainment during the nineteenth century with a formulaic plot and stereotypical stock characters.
• Pantomime: hugely popular and increasingly extravagant spectacles which has its roots in commedia dell’arte.
• Patent system: a regulatory system whereby only theatres awarded a royal patent were allowed to stage plays.
• Society play: popular drawing-room dramas based around a combination of social satire and comedy of manners.
• Tableaux: performers freeze in poses that create a picture of one important moment in the play.
• Theatres Act of 1843: a government act which abolished the patent system in theatres.

Key Dates & Events

• 1837 - 1901 - The reign of Queen Victoria.
• 1843 - The Licensing Act was dropped under the new Theatres Act.
• 1879 - Augustus Harris reopened the empty Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He staged his first pantomime, Bluebeard, later that year.
• 1892 - Augustus Harris took over the failed Royal English Opera House and reopened it as successful music hall, newly named The Palace Theatre of Varieties.
• 1895 - The Importance of Being Earnest premiered at St James's Theatre in London.
• 1895 - 1897 - Following a highly publicized trial, Oscar Wilde was convicted of gross indency with men and sentenced to two years' hard labor in jail.
• 1896 - Augustus Harris died, aged 44. His funeral was attended by thousands of mourners.
• 1900 - Broken by two years in prison, Oscar Wilde died in exile in France. He was just 46 years old.