London Civic Theatre City Drama and Pageantry from Roman Times to 1558 [Paperback]

This book presents a rich picture of civic theatrical life in London, from Roman amphitheatre shows to Tudor pageantry.Civic theatre--drama and pageantry sponsored by city and town governing bodies--is prominent in histories of early English provincial drama, but has been largely ignored for pre-Elizabethan London. Anne Lancashire explodes the widely-held notion thatsignificant London theatre arose only in the age of Shakespeare, when the first commercialplayhouses were built. She provides, with evidence from a multitude of primary sources, a rich picture of civic theatrical life in London before 1558: from Roman amphitheatre shows to medieval and Tudor mummings, street pageantry, and plays.Civic theatre--drama and pageantry sponsored by city and town governing bodies--is prominent in histories of early English provincial drama, but has been largely ignored for pre-Elizabethan London. Anne Lancashire explodes the widely-held notion thatsignificant London theatre arose only in the age of Shakespeare, when the first commercialplayhouses were built. She provides, with evidence from a multitude of primary sources, a rich picture of civic theatrical life in London before 1558: from Roman amphitheatre shows to medieval and Tudor mummings, street pageantry, and plays.Civic theater (drama and pageantry sponsored by city and town governing bodies) is prominently featured in histories of early English provincial drama, but largely ignored in those of pre-Elizabethan London. Anne Lancashire explodes the widely-held notion that significant London theater arose jnly in Shakespeare's era, when the first commercial playhouses were built. She presents a rich panorama of civic theatrical life in London before 1558 that includes Roman amphitheater shows, medieval and Tudor mummings, street pjgeantry and plays.Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Company designations; London Mayors and Sheriffs; Transcription Practices; Introduction; Part I. From Roman Times to 1410: 1. RomanlӔ