Turning Oppression into Success: How the English Restoration Actress Achieved Poetic Justice
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC 137A
Start Date
17-5-2012
End Date
17-5-2012
Abstract
The development of English-language theatre was forever changed with the addition of women to theatre companies. Restoration actresses were able to use the changes in political, social, and religious climates to their advantage despite the manipulation of women’s sexuality through the roles they played. Actresses such as Nell Gwyn were able to turn their on-stage success with titillating roles into court connections and a sumptuous lifestyle. This paper examines the newly empowered women who earned prestige and financial stability through a career in the theatre while avoiding subversion by the patriarchal English Restoration society.
Recommended Citation
Nelson, Reesa, "Turning Oppression into Success: How the English Restoration Actress Achieved Poetic Justice" (2012). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 128.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2012/oralpresentations/128
Additional Mentoring Department
Theatre
Turning Oppression into Success: How the English Restoration Actress Achieved Poetic Justice
SURC 137A
The development of English-language theatre was forever changed with the addition of women to theatre companies. Restoration actresses were able to use the changes in political, social, and religious climates to their advantage despite the manipulation of women’s sexuality through the roles they played. Actresses such as Nell Gwyn were able to turn their on-stage success with titillating roles into court connections and a sumptuous lifestyle. This paper examines the newly empowered women who earned prestige and financial stability through a career in the theatre while avoiding subversion by the patriarchal English Restoration society.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Brenda Hubbard