Theatre & Entertainment Histories

Ian Gledhill was a professional stage designer, and in this talk we look at the history of both set design and theatre itself, from the ancient Greeks to the present day.  The talk concludes with a look at different methods of modern set design, and a practical demonstration of simple stage illusion.

Pantomime is an enduring and peculiarly British institution, yet its beginnings go back a very long way and are in fact anything but British!  We look at the origins of panto and examine many of the traditions (and superstitions) that have become attached to it over the years, interspersed with personal anecdotes from years of working and appearing in pantomime. 

A lighthearted look at seaside entertainment over the years, from bathing machines to end of the pier shows.  English seaside towns began to be popular with the gentry in the 18th century with the fashion for sea bathing, and soon developed into fashionable resorts to rival traditional spa towns like Bath and Harrogate.  On the way they acquired many traditions of their own, including "What the Butler Saw" machines and the dreaded seaside landlady!

Today Gilbert is almost solely remembered as the man who wrote the words for the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. However in his day he was the leading dramatist of Victorian England and led a revolution in the way plays (and indeed operas) were produced. While his enormous output of straight plays has been totally forgotten his influence on British theatre remains to this day. This talk looks at his life and work.