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Up until the Restoration in 1660, all professional actors were men. When Charles II, came to the throne, he insisted that women’s roles be played by women rather
than young men. Charles himself had affairs with several actresses, including the former prostitute Nell Gwyn who had two of his illegitimate children.
Many of the women’s roles were ‘breeches parts’, where women dressed as male characters. Audiences found this daring and appealing. Jane Long and
Elizabeth Boutell both tantalised audiences by showing their shapely legs in breeches. At the end of one play, Boutell added the lines:
‘Tis worth such Money that such Legs appear,
These are not to be seen so cheap elsewhere’.
Women playwrights also began to have their work produced for the first time. Writing as well as acting provided women with an independent means to earn a living but this was
seen as immoral by much of society. |
