1. The Restoration
England 1660

2. History
King Charles II and his court returned to England from exile in France and attempted to adapt services of theatre to his needs.
He authorized 2 dramatists, Thomas Killegrew and Sir William D’Avenant, to form 2 acting companies.
Their audiences were courtiers and their servants as well as the middle class.
Theatre Royal – remodeled now
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Thomas Killegrew

3. More History…
This created a unique theatrical form: “Restoration Comedy”
Focused on adventures of “people of quality” and reflected their manners, humor and interests.
Verbal Wit was essential and was used to satirize this class and its morality.
Often sexually explicit.
Contained up-to-the-minute topical writing

4. Characteristics of Productions
Women were cast in female roles.
Nell Gwynn – considered first professional actress
She was also the mistress of King Charles II.
Nearly 25% of all plays produced in London
included women in “breeches roles” (women wore
tight-fitting knee length pants and played the role
of a man). It gave them the freedom to behave
like men.

5. Examples of women in “Breeches Role”
Sarah Bernhardt in a
Breeches Role
1917

6. More Characteristics…
Acting Schools were established.
Actors developed greater realism than before (although still not like modern realism).
Thomas Betterton played every great male part from 1660 into the 1700s

7. Physical Theatre Space
Banquet halls in palaces were redesigned to accommodate performances.
Since most English Renaissance theatres were gone (like the Globe) new English theatres were more like the French and Italian theatres – they had proscenium stages with large aprons.

8. More Physical Space Backdrops could be raised or lowered.
Act Curtains were used for the first time in England.
Stage floors had grooves for sliding “flats” or “shutters” back and forth for scenery.
The floor was raked away from the audience for perspective.
Lighting came from chandeliers of candles over the apron and footlights of candles along the front of the stage. (No more open roofs like The Globe).

9. Important Playwrights
Aphra Behn ( )
One of the first professional women writers
She worked as a spy for the British Crown
Produced 19 plays, some bawdy topics
In spite of her literary success, she died in poverty
Most famous play called: “Oroonoko”

10. More… Playwrights and Plays
William Wycherley ( )
The Country Wife
William Congreve ( )
The Way of the World
Oliver Goldsmith ( )
She Stoops to Conquer – 1773
Richard Brinsley Sheridan ( )
The Rivals – 1775
The School for Scandal
Wycherley
Congreve
Goldsmith

11. The End ! 
Intro to Theatre
Ms. Birtcher