The Theatre Industry in Nineteenth-Century France

This 1993 book explores the history of French theatre in the nineteenth century through its special role as an organized popular entertainment. Traditionally regarded as an elite art form, in post-Revolutionary France the stage began to be seen as an industry like any other and the theatre became one of the few areas of employment where women were in demand as much as men. The increasingly commercial ethos dominating the stage led to the mass production of plays with audience appeal, resulting in an inevitable dilution of literary standards. In this lively account, Hemmings examines how the theatre world flourished and evolved, and reveals such matters as the difficult life of the actress, salaries and contracts, and the profession of the playwright. This is the first book to explore the history of French theatre in the nineteenth century through its special role as an organized popular amusement. In this fascinating study, F. W. J. Hemmings examines the transition of the theatre from an elite art form to its new role in post-revolutionary France as an industry like any other. During this period theatre became one of the few areas of employment where women were in demand as much as men, and a school of dramatic art, supported by generous government grants, was founded in Paris a century or more before similar training centres were established in London and elsewhere. Through an examination of contemporary documents and records, Hemmings reveals the social and cultural environment surrounding the theatre in this period. The book is divided into three sections: audiences, actors, and playwrights, and covers such topics as the attempt of the claque to dictate audience reaction, the social ostracism suffered by actors and even more by actresses throughout the century, and the increasing stranglehold the powerful playwrights' union established over commercial managers. Written in a lively style, it will be of interest to students and scholars of theatre history, French history and culture, and social history. This is the first book to explore the history of French theater in the nineteenth century through its special role as an organized popular entertainment. Traditionally regarded as an elite art form, in post-Revolutionary France the stage began to be seen as an industry like any other and the theater became one of the few areas of employment where women were in demand as much as men. In this lively account, Hemmings examines how the theater world flourished and evolved, and reveals such matters as the difficult life of the actress, salaries and contracts, and the profession of the playwright.