The introduction of scenery and elaborate stage machinery on the English public stage in the 1660s gave rise to blockbusting semi-operas. Many of these
were adaptations of other plays - often by Shakespeare. These had episodes of music, singing, dancing and special effects. They even had
transformation scenes. The 1674 production of The Tempest had many spectacular scenes including a storm. The advances
in scene design impacted on the design of theatre buildings,
and behind the thrust stage a scenic stage was added, framed by a proscenium arch
Restoration Dramatists
Audiences had a preference for Restoration comedy and heroic tragedy in addition to plays by Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher, and Shakespeare.
The double standards of courtiers and members of the aristocracy were reflected in Restoration drama’s obsession with social behaviour. Powerful and well-mannered
characters were often portrayed as corrupt and sexually promiscuous.
Restoration dramatists include William Wycherley, George Etherege, Thomas Otway, William Congreve, and George Farquhar.
Women Writers
The Restoration period also saw women become recognised as professional playwrights. The most famous of these was Aphra Behn. A group of
women writers known as ‘The Female Wits’ produced many works for the stage. They included Mary Pix, Catherine Trotter and the prolific Susannah Centlivre
who wrote 19 plays including A Bold Stroke for a Wife.
Early Theatre in Britain
The Globe
