Introduction to the theatre of the eighteenth century

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1 Introduction to the theatre of the eighteenth century

2 Theatres of the Ancien Regime
One of the most popular and prestigious forms of entertainment Official theatres: l’Opéra & la Comédie Française Semi-official theatres: les théâtres de la Foire & les théâtres du boulevard Private theatres

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6 The public Annual income of 600 livres to afford going to the theatre
A good manual worker earns at the top end 300 livres Performances started at 5pm, so before the end of the working day Théâtres de la foire more accessible

7 Spatial organisation Parterre Amphitheatre Loges
Seats directly on the stage 1759: the stage is completely free of spectators Theatre becomes a visual experience

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10 Tragedy in crisis Classical tragedy at the apex of literary genres
Seventeenth-century theatre: Racine and Corneille La règle des trois unités: time, place, action ‘Qu’en un lieu, qu’en un jour, un seul fait accompli / Tienne jusqu’à la fin le théâtre rempli’ (Boileau) La règle de bienséance: no physical intimacy or violence ‘Ce qu’on ne doit point voir, qu’un récit nous l’expose:/ les yeux en le voyant saisiront mieux la chose;/ Mais il est des objets que l’art judicieux / Doit offrir à l’oreille et reculer des yeux’ (Boileau)

11 Tragedy in crisis Discovery of Shakespeare Theatre as a tribune
Calls for making the tragedy more supple Voltaire, Diderot, Mercier

12 Theatre of the Revolution
Plays linked to the political events Regeneration of the nation through theatre But not a regeneration of theatre itself ‘écoles primaires pour adultes’