Perspectives on Nineteenth-Century British Theatre

Jim Davis

doi:10.1177/1748372721997395

Abstract

Perspectives on Nineteenth-Century British Theatre

Highlights

Visitors to Britain in the nineteenth century often recorded their theatre-going experiences. This is true of a number of North American visitors in the early years of the nineteenth century
Arriving in London at the age of sixteen, ‘passionately fond of the theatre’[1] as he tells us, he was in time to enjoy the performances of the Kembles, while attending dinner parties where he made the acquaintance of Charles Kemble and Charles Mathews the elder and later getting to know the dramatist James Kenney
Washington Irving’s journals and letters provide insights into the theatre of this period. He too became acquainted with Charles Kemble and James Kenney, recording on Thursday 4 December 1823 a breakfast conversation in Paris with Kenney about the state of the London theatres: Much talk about the theatres — incredible the rivalships & feuds between the actors —Whenever he goes to Lond[on] in a day or two he is in the midst of cabals, complaints &c

Summary

Introduction

Visitors to Britain in the nineteenth century often recorded their theatre-going experiences. A. North American Perspectives on Nineteenth-Century British Theatre

Results

Conclusion