Early 17th Century Drama from "summary" of A Short History of English Literature by Benjamin Ifor Evans
In the early 17th century, the Elizabethan theatre was replaced by the more organized and intellectual Jacobean drama. This period saw the rise of a unique form of tragedy and comedies that dealt with everyday life and society. These works explored themes such as greed, ambition, and revenge.- At the beginning of the 17th century, drama was a popular form of entertainment in England. The style of theatre and its conventions changed significantly from that before in many interesting and innovative ways.
- Restoration Comedy replaced the tragic heroic dramas of Elizabethan age with plays focusing on satire and irony, often containing sexual and moral themes.
- The minor Elizabethan playwrights were succeeded by powerful figures such as John Fletcher (who worked alongside William Shakespeare. and Ben Jonson who developed their own unique forms to push boundaries of existing drama.
- In reaction to this new style of theatre, Austerity period drama arrived promoting a morality in stark contrast to the frivolous nature of the Restoration Comedies.
- Culminating with works such as "The Duchess of Malfi" and "Volpone", Early Seventeenth Century Drama saw prolific plays written during this era which have endured in modern day literature.
- Developments in music and stagecraft meant an entirely new type of staging could be adopted, introducing actors speaking directly to the audience for the purpose of conveying emotion or poking fun at them.
- This golden era in English Theatre brought about exciting stylistic changes born from social and religious differences found in England at the start of the seventeenth century.
- During the early seventeenth century, important progression towards modern day audience expectations was seen with changes such as introducing more realistic sets and costumes.
- During this time prominent writers, such as John Webster and Robert Daborne, focussed on experimental writing, pushing the limits of dramatic convention at the time with their challenging stories and emotional depth.
- Marriage plots between characters grew in popularity following dazzling performances from leading lady actresses such as Rebecca Marshall, renowned for her roles as Ophelia and Katherine in revivals of ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Henry VIII’ respectively.
