Gentlemen of a Company
English Players in Central and Eastern Europe 1590–1660

Valuable to all scholars and students of English and Continental theatre and drama.

Jerzy Limon (Author)

9780521115094, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 2 July 2009

204 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.2 cm, 0.31 kg

This is the first book of its kind in English. It is a comprehensive and scrupulously researched account of the theatrical activity, of professional groups of players who left England for Central and Eastern Europe between the years 1590 and 1660. Touring on such a scale was an unprecedented phenomenon, and in an introductory chapter Dr Limon establishes its causes within the context of English acting traditions on the Continent in general. He describes its distinctive phases, examines the fortunes of particular companies, and stresses the significance of noble patronage, which enabled the players to survive even the most severe times. The book's main chapters deal with English theatrical activities in various specific towns and regions: Gdansk, Elbing, Königsberg, Pomerania, Livonia, Warsaw, Bohemia and Austria. Additional sections discuss two key theatre institutions in Gdansk and Warsaw. His book is illustrated with seventeenth-century engravings of theatre sites in the relevant regions. It will be valuable to all scholars and students of English and Continental theatre and drama.

List of illustrations
Preface
Introduction
Part I. The Baltic Route: 1. Gdansk
2. Elbing
3. Königsberg
4. Pomerania
5. Livonia
Part II. The Noble Patrons: The Habsburgs and the Vasas: 6. Warsaw
7. Bohemia
8. Austria
Part III. The Theatres: 9. The Gdansk fencing-school
10. The Royal Theatre in Warsaw
Appendixes
Notes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Theatre studies [AN]