Contents 1
1 Theatre in Britain 1
2 The Golden Age 9
3 Comedy in the theatre：17th and 18th centuries 18
4 Comedy in the theatre：19th and 20th centuries 25
5 Politics in the theatre 33
6 Verse plays 38
7 Theatre against society 41
8 Actors in Britain 46
9 An actor's life 53
10 Theatre in Britain today 58
11 Presenting a play 66
12 An amateur theatre company 73
Key to the Exercises 87