Beginnings

When the century began, drama was at its lowest ebb.George III was that „old, mad, blind, despised and dying king”, that Shelley described, and his son became regent in 1812 before becoming George IV (1820-1830).He was liked no better than his father, and his brother, William IV (1830-1837), antagonized the politicians.It was quite a change when the young Victoria (1837-1901) became popular.She loved the theatre and, by the end of her reign, „the new drama” had emerged.

Drama in the early 19^th century

For the first 15 years of the century, Britons were occupied with the Napoleonic War and with the heroic figures of Nelson and Wellington.But the great urban centres had so grown that widespread poverty arose after the war; authorities severely repressed the workers.It was only after the Reform Act of 1832 that prosperity increased and civil war was averted.

Theatrical conditions

The patent theatres both burned down and were rebuilt on a massive scale:Drury Lane (1812) had a capacity of over 3200 while Covent Garden (1809) held slightly less. Their huge size coarsened acting; performers had to indulge in rant (szavalás) and bombast (fellengzős) to be effective over large distances. The large auditoriums also encouraged physical extravagance in plots and scenic effects; thus tastes coarsened, too.