Technical Theater During the Restoration Lighting and Scenic Design England 1660-1800 :: English Theater

Technical Theater During the Restoration illumine and Scenic Design England 1660-1800 The Restoration in England was an era ripe for the schooling of new ideas in the arts. The return of the Stuart monarchy under Charles II marked the revoke of eighteen years of almost dictatorial control by Oliver Cromwell and his prude parliament. Cromwell had campaigned actively to halt all theatrical activity. In the end, however, his laws were actually responsible for(p) for helping move England forward in theatrical history. Actors, under Cromwells laws, were to be apprehended a rogues if they were caught in the act so to speak of playing their trade. Some left their careers and sought employment elsewhere. Most, however, remained undaunted by parliaments threats. Productions go on quietly in tennis courts, inns and private houses. Officials were bribed to keep silent their friendship of violations. The house in England had moved indoors as it had already do in France and Italy. Although the reasons for the move were different, the end result was the same. Up until this time plays had invariably been performed outdoors in the early afternoon. Performances traditionally relied on sunlight, natural scenery, and stripped set pieces that could be easily transported from one location to another. Indoor productions take something much more elaborate. The preliminary concepts of beautiful tendency and lighting design began to form in England in the late 1650s. During the Restoration, as controls were lifted, technical theater began to flourish. Many early examples of modern stage techniques were born between 1660 and 1800, qualification the Restoration a significant era in the history of scenic design and lighting for the theater. The art of scenic design did not suffer in England. As early as 1570 the Italians were giving elaborate opera performances in the ducal courts using perspective scenes and variou s types of stage machinery. The French mimicked the design ideas of the Italians and gave them a name, la scene a litalienne. (Southern 221) Although Cromwell had banned prevalent theater, opera was still considered a lawful art form. In England, comely prior to the Restoration, John Webb designed the scenery for William Davenants opera production of The Siege of Rhodes.