
Eighteenth Century Drama. Censorship, Society, and the Stage
The extensive collection of material offers an insight into the social life, the world of theatre and its censorship in the 18th century. The collection goes back to John Larpent, who was the Inspector of Plays (Lord Chamberlain's Office) from 1778 to 1824 and was responsible for the implementation of the Licensing Act (1737). Larpent has kept not only the censored but also the original versions of the plays examined, 2,500 of which are available digitally in the database. The material is supplemented by the diaries of Larpent's wife Anna, in which she recorded her criticism of plays as well as insights into theatre culture and English society.
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