The Economics of the British Stage 1800-1914

Duringthenineteenthcentury,Britishtheatredevelopedintoanindustrywithconsiderableimportanceintheeconomy,diversifiedbywholenewformsofentertainment-firstmusichallthencinema-evolvingalongsidethedramaticstage.Thiscomprehensivestudyexaminesthetheatre'sgrowthfromaneconomicperspective.TracyDavisreflectsthedebatesofeconomictheoristsfromAdamSmithtoAlfredMarshalltoinvestigatethreekeyareas:thestate'sroleinprotectingtheatre;thefactorsaffectingthesuccessorfailureoftheatrecompanies;andhowtheatrecametoberegardedasoneofthe'serviceindustries'.Bygroundingdebatesaboutsubsidizationandtheeconomicviabilityoftheliveartsinanerapredatinggovernmentfunding,DavisshedslightonthehistoryofculturalpolicyfortheartsinBritain.Herbookwillinterestscholarsacrossarangeofdisciplines-theatre,socialhistory,economics,genderstudiesandthesociologyofculture.