British Universities Film & Video Council

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Restoration Stage, The: From Tennis Court to Playhouse

Synopsis
Traces the origins of the first Restoration playhouses in London from the example of French tennis court theatres in Paris. Shows how Sir William Davenant’s 1661 adaptation of Lisle’s tennis court into a scenic playhouse inspired Christopher Wren’s design for the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, the most successful playhouse of the Restoration period. Also considers other attempted design solutions, some of which were based on Baroque extravagance (notably the Dorset Garden Theatre), and others on purist neoclassic forms (notably Vanbrugh’s Queen’s Theatre in the Haymarket, London). Uses computer graphics to illustrate important design features of the playhouses designed by Wren and Vanbrugh.
Series
Ancient Theatre and Its Legacy, Series
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 46 min.
Availability
Out of distribution; £38.00 (+VAT inc p&p)
Documentation
Accompanying notes.
Subjects
Architecture; Drama
Keywords
restoration - art and architecture; Restoration drama; theatre history; theatres; Vanbrugh, John; Wren, Christopher

Credits

Contributor
Richard C Beacham

Production Company

Name

University of Warwick Audio-Visual Centre

Sponsor

Name

University of Warwick, Department of Theatre Studies

Distributor

Name

Any Other Business

Phone
01926 423782
Fax
01926 423782
Address
6 Regency House
Newbold Terrace
Leamington Spa CV32 4HD
Notes
See: Any Other Business

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