History

Victorian London was home to many theatres, including Drury Lane, the Globe, Haymarket, and several hundred others. Melodrama was popular at this time and the period witnessed the rising popularity of theatrical forms such as pantomime, farce, and burlesque. Theatre was one of the main forms of popular entertainment in this period. Different theatres catered to the varying tastes and budgets of their audiences. Many working-class theatres existed in this period, including The Marylebone (Church Street, Edgeware Road) and The Britannia (High Street, Hoxton). Theatre performers with wooden legs were also not uncommon. For more on Victorian London’s theatres, see Theatres in Victorian London (victorianweb.org).