In this course, we will look at the development of British drama from
the early modern period up to the present. We will consider a variety of
dramatic genres (such as comedy, tragedy, tragicomedy, history plays,
city comedies, comedy of manners, heroic drama, the theatre of the
absurd, etc.), and we will pursue different questions and topics through
the history of British theatre. We will explore different theories and
functions, forms and styles of drama. A few plays will be discussed in
detail and with reference to their performance history and through this,
we will also analyse specific concerns, such as the role and
representation of women on stage and in the theatre business, the
engagement with different cultures and ethnicities, and how British
drama relates to British history and society.
- Teacher: Ursula Kluwick-Kälin