Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
The Theatres Act 1968 (c. 54) abolished stage censorship in the United Kingdom, receiving royal assent on 26 July 1968, after passing both Houses of Parliament. [ 1 ] Since 1737, scripts had been licensed for performance by the Lord Chamberlain's Office (under the Theatres Act 1843 , a continuation of the Licensing Act 1737 ) a measure ...
In 1985, the British government attempted to ban the book Spycatcher by MI5 officer Peter Wright because of the sensitive material it contained. Several British newspapers attempted to report on its principal allegations, but were served with gag orders. They persisted and were tried for contempt of court, charges that were later dropped. [155]
c. 28) or the Theatrical Licensing Act 1737 is a former act of Parliament in the Kingdom of Great Britain, and a pivotal moment in British theatrical history. Its purpose was to control and censor what was being said about the British government through theatre.
The Master of the Revels had overseen theatrical performance since 1545 with the Lord Chamberlain becoming involved in censorship after the Stuart Restoration in 1660. [4] In 1737, responding to satirical performances critical of his government, Robert Walpole introduced statutory censorship through the Licensing Act 1737, which appointed the Lord Chamberlain as the official theatrical censor. [4]
In 1948, the first British Theatre Conference recommended the termination of theatre censorship with the plan to pursue parliamentary action to ratify this. [1] [5] In the 1960s the debate to abolish theatre censorship rose again as a new generation of young playwrights came on the scene.
The Lord Chamberlain's requirements were a set of four prerequisites for a licence for a production in British theatres. These were printed in theatre programmes so the audience could be aware of them. The Lord Chamberlain's Office had control of theatres until 1968, including censorship of the production content as well as for logistical ...
The Theatres Act 1843 (6 & 7 Vict. c. 68) (also known as the Theatre Regulation Act) is a defunct Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom.It amended the regime established under the Licensing Act 1737 for the licensing of the theatre in Great Britain, implementing the proposals made by a select committee of the House of Commons in 1832.
The Lord Chamberlain's Office had a more significant role (under the Theatres Act 1843) in British society prior to 1968, as it was the official censor for virtually all theatre performed in Britain. Commercial theatre owners were generally satisfied by the safety this arrangement gave them; so long as they presented only licensed plays they ...