Victorian touring actresses: Crossing boundaries and negotiating the cultural landscape (Women, Theatre and Performance)

Victorian touring actresses brings new attention to women's experience of working in nineteenth-century theatre by focusing on a diverse group of largely forgotten ‘mid-tier'performers, rather than the usual celebrity figures. It examines how actresses responded to changing political, economic and social circumstances and how the women were themselves agents of change. Their histories reveal dynamic patterns of activity within the theatrical industry and expose its relationship to wider Victorian culture. With an innovative organisation mimicking the stages of an actress's life and career, the volume draws on new archival research and plentiful illustrations to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the women as they toured both within the UK and further afield in North America and Australasia. It will appeal to students and researchers in theatre and performance history, Victorian studies, gender studies and transatlantic studies. Victorian touring actresses brings new attention to women's experience of working in nineteenth-century theatre by focusing on a diverse group of largely forgotten 'mid-tier' performers, rather than the usual celebrity figures. It examines how actresses responded to changing political, economic and social circumstances and how the women were themselves agents of change. Their histories reveal dynamic patterns of activity within the theatrical industry and expose its relationship to wider Victorian culture. With an innovative organisation mimicking the stages of an actress's life and career, the volume draws on new archival research and plentiful illustrations to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the women as they toured both within the UK and further afield in North America and Australasia. It will appeal to students and researchers in theatre and performance history, Victorian studies, gender studies and transatlantic studies Victorian touring actresses provides a fresh perspective on nineteenth-century theatre and the careers of previously neglected British women who had once starred at home and abroad. Chapters explore debuts, establishing a name, working life in the UK, touring North America, long-distance colonial touring, management, offstage life and ageing. -- . Front matter Contents List of figures and tables Series editors’ foreword Acknowledgements Introduction Debuts and learning the craft Establishing a name Working life in the UK Touring North America Long-distance colonial touring Management Offstage: family and personal life Closing scenes: the ageing actress Short biographies References Index This title provides a fresh perspective on nineteenth-century theatre and the careers of previously neglected British women who had once starred at home and abroad. Chapters explore debuts, establishing a name, working life in the UK, touring North America, long-distance colonial touring, management, offstage life and ageing