The patent theatres were the theatres that were licenced to perform "spoken drama" after the English Restoration of Charles II in 1660. Other theatres were prohibited from performing such "serious" drama, but were permitted to show comedy, pantomime or melodrama. Drama was also interspersed with singing or dancing, to prevent the whole being too serious or dramatic. It has been suggested that Drama (art form) be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into theatre. ... King Charles II The English Restoration or simply Restoration was an episode in the history of Great Britain beginning in 1660 when the monarchy was restored under King Charles II after the English Civil War. ... The name Charles II is used to refer to numerous persons in history: Kings Charles the Fat (also known as Charles II of France and Charles III of the Holy Roman Empire) Charles II of England Charles II of Naples Charles II of Navarre Charles II of Romania Charles II... Comedy is the use of humor in the form of theater, where it simply referred to a play with a happy ending, in contrast to a tragedy. ... The Christmas Pantomime colour lithograph bookcover, 1890 Pantomime Pablo Zibes In Great Britain, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand pantomime (informally, panto) refers to a theatrical genre, usually performed around the Christmas and New Year holiday season. ... Poster for The Perils of Pauline (1914). ...

Public entertainments, such as theatrical performances, were banned under the Puritan rule in the English Commonwealth. After he was restored to the throne, Charles II issued letters patent to Thomas Killigrew and William Davenant, granting them the monopoly right to form two London theatre companies to perform "serious" drama. Killigrew established this company, the King's Company at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1663; Davenant esablished his company, the Duke's Company, in Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1663, later moving to Dorset Garden in 1671. The Puritans were members of a group of English Protestants seeking further reforms or even separation from the established church during the Reformation. ... The Commonwealth was the republican government which ruled first England and then the whole of Britain, Ireland, the colonies and other Crown possessions during the periods from 1649 (the monarch Charles I being beheaded on January 30 and An Act declaring England to be a Commonwealth being passed by the... Letters Patent by Queen Victoria creating the office of Governor-General of Australia Letters patent are a type of legal document which is an open letter issued by a monarch or government granting a right, monopoly, title, or status to someone or some entity such as a corporation. ... Thomas Killigrew (1612 - March 19, 1683), was an English dramatist. ... William Davenant Sir William Davenant (February 28, 1606 - April 7, 1668), also spelled DAvenant, was an English poet and playwright. ... It has been suggested that coercive monopoly be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the British city. ... The present-day Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, sketched when it was new, in 1813. ... Lincolns Inn Fields is the largest public square in London. ...

After problems under the direction of Charles Killigrew, Thomas' son, the King's Company was taken over by its rival, the Duke's Company in 1682. The two companies merged and the combined "United Company" continued under Thomas Betterton at Drury Lane. After some disagreements, Betterton obtained a license from William III to form a new company at the old theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1695, which moved to the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in 1720 (now the Royal Opera House). The two patent theatres closed in the summer months. To fill the gap, Samuel Foote's Theatre Royal, Haymarket became a third patent theatre in London in 1766. Thomas Betterton (c. ... William III King of England, Scotland and Ireland William III and II (14 November 1650–8 March 1702; also known as William Henry and William of Orange) was Prince of Orange from his birth, King of England and Ireland from 13 February 1689, and King of Scotland from 11 April... The Floral Hall of the Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is a performing arts venue in London. ... Samuel Foote (January 27, 1720 – October 21, 1777), a Cornish dramatist and actor, was baptized at Truro on January 27, 1720. ...

Further letters patent were granted to theatres in other English towns and cities, including the Theatre Royal, Bath in 1768, the Theatre Royal, Liverpool in 1772, and the Theatre Royal, Bristol in 1778. The Coopers Hall (right) became the theatre foyer in the 1970s The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre complex and theatrical company in the centre of Bristol, England. ...

These monopolies on the performance of "serious" plays were eventually revoked by the Theatre Regulation Act 1843, but censorship of the content of plays by the Lord Chamberlain under Robert Walpole's Theatrical Licensing Act of 1737 continued until 1968. The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom, and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the great offices of state. ... The Right Honourable Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC (26 August 1676 – 18 March 1745), usually known as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain. ... The Licensing Act or Theatrical Licensing Act of 1737 (citation ) was a landmark act of censorship of the British stage and one of the most determining factors in the development of Augustan drama. ...

See also

• Theatre Royal

Numerous theatres, especially in the UK, have been named Theatre Royal; the name was once an indication that the theatre had a Royal Patent without which theatrical performances were illegal. ...

External links

• The Patent Theatres: Drury Lane and Covent Garden