48:
142:
552:
his knowledge of the theatre. Charles Heriot (d. 1972) was an actor and producer. Sir St
Vincent Troubridge (1895–1963) was in the military as well as being a theatre historian. Ifan Kyrle Fletcher (d. 1969) was a theatre historian and antiquarian bookseller. Timothy Harward studied theatre and literature at university, becoming a theatre journalist for the
242:
In addition to reading plays and writing Reader's
Reports for the Lord Chamberlain the Examiners were expected to visit theatres to ensure their safety and comfort and to see that the Lord Chamberlain's rules were carried out with regard to the licences. They were also required to appear at subpoenas
551:
for 30 years retiring in 1896 to become a journalist and drama critic for several London newspapers. Charles
Brookfield was an actor, playwright and journalist. George Street was an essayist, novelist and playwright. Henry Game (d. 1966) trained as an artist, was an amateur actor and was known for
233:
Laws regulating theatre in the early 18th century were not strictly enforced. People had free rein to say anything they wanted through theatre, including all their troubles with the government. Free speech in theatre was seen as a threat to the government, facilitating the spread of revolutionary
65:
An Act to explain and amend so much of an Act made in the
Twelfth Year of the Reign of Queen Anne, intituled, "An Act for reducing the Laws relating to Rogues, Vagabonds, sturdy Beggars, and Vagrants, into One Act of Parliament; and for the more effectual punishing such Rogues, Vagabonds, sturdy
177:
in the task of censoring all plays from 1737 to 1968. The
Examiner read all plays which were to be publicly performed, produced a synopsis and recommended them for licence, consulting the Lord Chamberlain in cases of doubt. The act also created a legal distinction between categories of
243:
in law cases relating to licensing, and to examine Play Bills. From 1911 Examiners were required to write reports on plays for the Lord
Chamberlain. A copy of the play script and Reader's Report were held by the Lord Chamberlain's office and are now held by the British Library in the
546:
and had an extensive knowledge of
European literature and languages. George Redford (d. 1916), a playwright, resigned his post in 1913 to become the first president of the British Board of Film Censors. Ernest Bendall (1846–1924) had been a clerk in the
206:, also exercised the power to censor plays for publication. The Master of the Revels, who normally reported to the Lord Chamberlain, continued to perform the function until, with the outbreak of the
165:, and a pivotal moment in British theatrical history. Its purpose was to control and censor what was being said about the British government through theatre. The act was repealed by the
1073:
787:"'Chamber Administration: Examiner and Deputy Examiner of Plays, 1738-1837', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837"
254:
was the Lord
Chamberlain nearly 13,000 plays were licensed, an average of 820 a year; under 200 plays were refused a licence, an average of 12 per year.
1088:
1083:
71:
690:
173:. The Lord Chamberlain was the official censor and the office of Examiner of Plays was created under the Act. The Examiner assisted the
1058:
133:
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251:
1046:
244:
198:. The power was used mostly with respect to matters of politics and religion (including blasphemy). It was certainly exercised by
603:
571:
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The
Examiners had a variety of qualifications and experience for the position. Edward Pigott (1824–1895) was a journalist on the
581:
211:
52:
66:
Beggars, and
Vagrants, and sending them whither they ought to be sent," as relates to common Players of Interludes.
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First page of the Licensing Act of 1737, which established the office of Examiner of Plays
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The function of censorship of plays for performance (at least in London) fell to the
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The Lord Chamberlain regrets-- : a history of British theatre censorship
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Buck was granted "a portion of the powers previously vested" in the Church
114:
723:. London: Hodder & Stoughton. pp. 46–57, 119–125, 265–266.
140:
976:
Marriott, R.B. (27 June 1968). "For the benefit of the player".
1019:
Drag: A History of Female Impersonation In The Performing Arts
202:, who was Master from 1579 to 1610. Tylney and his successor,
752:
Dominic, Shellard; Nicholson, Steve; Handley, Miriam (2004).
234:
ideas. The act enhanced government control and censorship.
257:
There were 21 Examiners of Plays between 1738 and 1968.
218:
in 1660. During the creation of the Licensing of 1737,
27:
British legislation restricting free speech in theaters
637:, to license plays for publication. Dutton, p. 149.
132:
125:
113:
103:
98:
88:
83:
70:
59:
1016:
931:Dearmer, Geoffrey (9 June 1966). "Mr Henry Game".
678:
649:, British History Online, accessed 6 November 2014
607:(online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004.
405:Joint examiner with Redford for one month in 1911
214:. Stage plays did not return to England until the
647:"September 1642: Order for Stage-plays to cease"
601:"The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography".
180:"legitimate theatre" and "illegitimate theatre"
8:
1041:University of Wisconsin Press. 1984. print.
672:
670:
668:
666:
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35:
34:
1010:Antitheatricality: 16th and 17th century
259:
756:. London: British Library. p. 25.
604:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
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1074:Great Britain Acts of Parliament 1737
134:Text of statute as originally enacted
7:
714:
712:
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500:Troubridge, Lt-Col. Sir St Vincent
169:, which was itself replaced by the
721:The Lord Chamberlain's blue pencil
25:
685:. University of Wisconsin Press.
431:Senior (Sole) Examiner 1920-1930
1089:Censorship in the United Kingdom
572:Censorship in the United Kingdom
46:
965:. 18 December 1963. p. 12.
950:. 22 November 1972. p. 18.
830:. 15 November 1916. p. 15.
677:Liesenfeld, Vincent J. (1984).
380:Pigott, Edward Frederick Smyth
961:"Sir St. Vincent Troubridge".
905:. 2 November 1936. p. 19.
890:. 21 October 1913. p. 11.
811:"Death of Mr. E.F.S. Pigott".
336:Known as 'Colman the Younger'
1:
1084:Theatre of the United Kingdom
920:. 5 November 1936. p. 9.
826:"Death of Mr. G.A. Redford".
503:Assistant Examiner 1952-1963
1023:. New York City: NYU Press.
995:. 3 January 1969. p. 8.
621:UK public library membership
250:In the years 1922–1938 when
194:by the time of the reign of
946:"Mr Charles David Heriot".
875:. 15 July 1924. p. 10.
860:. 15 July 1924. p. 16.
845:. 19 July 1924. p. 17.
841:"Joint Examiner of Plays".
212:stage plays were prohibited
53:Parliament of Great Britain
1110:
1039:The Licensing Act of 1737.
815:. 2 March 1895. p. 9.
549:Paymaster-General's Office
491:Senior Examiner 1947-1968
477:Senior Examiner 1953-1958
448:Senior Examiner 1936-1953
32:United Kingdom legislation
886:"Mr Charles Brookfield".
873:Sheffield Daily Telegraph
681:The Licensing Act of 1737
582:Lord Chamberlain's Office
560:Regent Street Polytechnic
446:Joint Examiner 1930-1936
434:Joint Examiner 1930–1936
429:Joint Examiner 1914-1920
416:Joint Examiner 1914-1920
45:
40:
635:Court of High Commission
458:Jones, Rev. Albert Evans
245:Lord Chamberlain's Plays
163:Kingdom of Great Britain
1037:Liesenfeld, Vincent J.
719:Johnston, John (1990).
413:Bendall, Ernest Alfred
791:British History Online
785:Bucholz, R.O. (2006).
146:
1015:Baker, Roger (1994).
916:"Cues and comments".
613:10.1093/ref:odnb/3821
522:Kyrle Fletcher, Ifan
369:Donne, William Bodham
320:Assisted by his wife
157:. c. 28) is a former
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991:"Mr I.K. Fletcher".
901:"Mr George Street".
856:"Mr. E.A. Bendall".
224:Master of the Revels
192:Master of the Revels
1059:The text of the act
536:Assistant Examiner
525:Assistant Examiner
514:Assistant Examiner
489:Examiner 1937-1958
475:Examiner 1936-1953
401:Brookfield, Charles
390:Redford, George A.
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37:
993:The Times (London)
963:The Times (London)
948:The Times (London)
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903:The Times (London)
888:The Times (London)
858:The Times (London)
279:Chetwynd, William
260:
252:The Earl of Cromer
229:Purpose of the Act
151:Licensing Act 1737
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36:Licensing Act 1737
692:978-0-299-09810-0
619:(Subscription or
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533:Harward, Timothy
471:Dearmer, Geoffrey
238:Examiner of Plays
222:was the standing
208:English Civil War
196:Queen Elizabeth I
171:Theatres Act 1968
167:Theatres Act 1843
159:Act of Parliament
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108:Vagrants Act 1713
99:Other legislation
41:Act of Parliament
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16:(Redirected from
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127:Status: Repealed
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94:21 June 1737
90:Royal assent
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555:Irish Times
216:Restoration
204:George Buck
115:Repealed by
1068:Categories
843:The Sphere
796:10 January
623:required.)
588:References
544:Daily News
530:1965–1968
519:1964–1968
508:1958–1965
497:1952–1963
483:1937–1968
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328:1824–1836
312:1778–1824
299:1749–1781
286:1738–1749
276:1738–1778
186:Forerunner
61:Long title
978:The Stage
918:The Stage
268:Examiner
210:in 1642,
155:10 Geo. 2
77:10 Geo. 2
772:57430574
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566:See also
72:Citation
828:The Era
813:The Era
161:in the
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271:Notes
104:Amends
265:Date
84:Dates
1043:ISBN
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980:: 8.
798:2019
768:OCLC
758:ISBN
735:OCLC
725:ISBN
687:ISBN
149:The
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