The Theatre (magazine)
The Theatre was a magazine published in London between 1877 and 1897.
It contained reviews of theatre productions around the world, theatrical news, short stories, verse and biographical sketches of important figures of the time, written by prominent critics, playwrights, managers and actors, and illustrated with Woodburytype photographs. Its longest-serving editor was Clement Scott, the most influential British drama critic of his time, and under his editorship The Theatre was regarded as the leading British theatre magazine.
History
Early years
According to the
The first issue came out in January 1877, and from then until August 1878 it was a weekly publication. After that The Theatre was published monthly.[3] It provided topical articles, reviews of productions around the world, theatrical news, extracts from new novels and plays, and biographical sketches of theatrical celebrities of the time. From August 1878 sketches were illustrated with high quality Woodburytype photographs. The first in this "Portraits" series was Irving's leading lady, Ellen Terry, and Irving himself was featured in a similar article in the same issue.[4]
Among those writing for the magazine during Hawkins's editorship were Irving,
Clement Scott, editor 1880 to 1889
In 1879 Irving sold The Theatre to the drama critic Clement Scott for £1,000,[1] and from January 1880 to the end of 1889 Scott edited the magazine.[7] He was widely seen as the most influential theatre critic of his time, and The Theatre enjoyed what one historian has called "dominating prestige and influence".[8] In the words of the ODNB, Scott used his editorship "to consolidate his own position as London's principal leader of dramatic taste and opinion".[1] Scott did not shy away from controversy, and in The Theatre he frequently provoked arguments, even feuds, with other writers.[9] He also often published opinions disagreeing with his own.[10] Despite its prestige The Theatre was not a highly profitable publication, and went through several financial crises under Scott and his successors before its closure at the end of 1897.[1][11]
Under Scott the coverage of London theatre was expanded. Each issue would carry eight to ten reviews of new productions;
1889 to 1897
Scott left in 1889, and for the remaining eight years of its existence The Theatre continued under Bernard Capes, Charles Eglington and Addison Bright. Under their editorships the content of the magazine remained broadly as it had been under Scott, with a few minor innovations, although Scott's combative style was abandoned.[20] The title of "Our Play-Box" was changed to "Plays of the Month", and "Our Omnlbus-Box" became "Notes of the Month".[21] From May 1893 the magazine carried a series of interviews with leading theatre personalities at home, which were the forerunners of many such interviews in 20th-century periodicals.[22]
Contributors in the post-Scott era included Scott himself, Davenport Adams, Hollingshead, Beatty-Kingston, Joseph Bennett, William Henry Hudson, Jerome K. Jerome and William Poel.[23][24] The final issue was published in December 1897.[25]
References and sources
References
- ^ a b c d Emeljanow, Victor. "Scott, Clement William (1841–1904), theatre critic", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2021 (subscription or UK public library membership required)
- ^ Wong, p. 6
- ^ Wong, p. 5
- ^ "Portraits", The Theatre, August 1878, pp. 15–17 and 43–45
- ^ Wong, p. 13
- ^ "Orders for the Play", The Theatre, November 1878, pp. 284–286
- ^ Wong, p. 14
- ^ Graham, pp. 354–355
- ^ Wong, pp. 19 and 41
- ^ Wong, p. 29
- ^ Wong, p. 30
- ^ Graham, p. 354
- ^ Wong, p. 22
- ^ Wong, pp. 22 and 26–27
- ^ The Theatre, January 1879, pp. 399–402
- ^ The Theatre, 28 November 1877, pp. 285–285
- ^ The Theatre, August 1878, pp. 17–23
- ^ The Theatre, November 1881, pp. 271-276
- ^ Gilbert, W. S., "An Autobiography", The Theatre, April 1883, pp. 216–224
- ^ Wong, p. 41
- ^ Wong, p. 39
- ^ Wong, p. 40
- ^ Wong, p. 38
- ^ The Theatre, May 1892, p. 271; May 1897, p. 134; and December 1897, pp. 285 and 302
- ^ Wong, p. 44
Sources
- Graham, Walter (1980) [1930]. English Literary Periodicals. New York: Octagon Books. ISBN 978-0-374-93230-5.
- Wong, Helene Harlin (1955). The Late Victorian Theatre: as Reflected in 'The Theatre', 1878–1897 (Thesis). Louisiana State University. OCLC 10804838. Retrieved 15 August 2021.