introduction to the theatre of the eighteenth century

Introduction to the theatre of the eighteenth century

Theatres of the Ancien Regime

One of the most popular and prestigious forms of entertainment

Official theatres: l’Opéra & la Comédie Française

Semi-official theatres: les théâtres de la Foire & les théâtres du boulevard

Private theatres

The public

Annual income of 600 livres to afford going to the theatre

A good manual worker earns at the top end 300 livres

Performances started at 5pm, so before the end of the working day

Théâtres de la foire more accessible

Spatial organisation

ParterreAmphitheatreLogesSeats directly on the stage1759: the stage is completely free of

spectatorsTheatre becomes a visual experience

Tragedy in crisis

Classical tragedy at the apex of literary genresSeventeenth-century theatre: Racine and CorneilleLa règle des trois unités: time, place, action‘Qu’en un lieu, qu’en un jour, un seul fait accompli /

Tienne jusqu’à la fin le théâtre rempli’ (Boileau)La règle de bienséance: no physical intimacy or

violence‘Ce qu’on ne doit point voir, qu’un récit nous

l’expose:/ les yeux en le voyant saisiront mieux la chose;/ Mais il est des objets que l’art judicieux / Doit offrir à l’oreille et reculer des yeux’ (Boileau)

Tragedy in crisis

Discovery of ShakespeareTheatre as a tribune Calls for making the tragedy more suppleVoltaire, Diderot, Mercier

Theatre of the Revolution

Plays linked to the political eventsRegeneration of the nation through theatreBut not a regeneration of theatre itself‘écoles primaires pour adultes’