The Rise of the Victorian Actor (Paperback)

Originally published in 1978. Between 1830 and 1890 the English theatre became recognisably modern. Standards of acting and presentation improved immeasurably, new playwrights emerged, theatres became more comfortable and more intimate and playgoing became a national pastime with all classes. The actor's status rose accordingly. In 1830 he had been little better than a social outcast; by 1880 he had become a member of a skilled, relatively well-paid and respected profession which was attracting new recruits in unprecedented numbers. This is a social history of Victorian actors which seeks to show how wider social attitudes and developments affected the changing status of acting as a profession. Thus the stage's relationship with the professional world and the other arts is dealt with and is followed by an assessment of the moral and religious background which played so decisive a part in contemporary attitudes to actors. The position of actresses in particular is given special consideration. Many non-theatrical sources are used here and there is a survey of salaries and working conditions in the theatre to show how the rising social status of the actor was matched by changes in his theatrical standing. A novel area of study is covered in tracing the changing social composition of the acting profession over the period and in exploring the case-histories of three generations of performers.

General

Imprint:	Routledge
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Series:	Routledge Library Editions: Victorian Theatre
Release date:	June 2017
First published:	1978
Authors:	Michael Baker
Dimensions:	234 x 156mm (L x W)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	238
ISBN-13:	978-1-138-93658-4
Categories:	Books > Arts & Architecture > The arts: general issues > General Books > Arts & Architecture > Performing arts > Theatre, drama > Acting techniques Books > Reference & Interdisciplinary > Encyclopaedias & reference works > Reference works > General Books > Arts & Architecture > History of art / art & design styles > From 1900 > Art styles, 1960 - > Performance art
LSN:	1-138-93658-8
Barcode:	9781138936584

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