Until recently the
history of the english theatre has been build around actors rather
then companies. It has been hard to find any London theatre that
even had a consistent policy. There are no permanent staff in
British theatres. Apply is rehearsed for a few weeks by a company of
actors working together mostly for the first time and it is allowed to
run as long as it draws the odious and pays it's way. Another
peculiarity of the theatres in Great Britain is an follows: there
are two kinds of seats, which can be booked an advanced (bookable),
and unbookable once have no numbers and the spectators occupy them
on the principal: first come - first served. And ancient times
plays were acted inside churches and later on the market places.
The first theatres in England were "The Blackfries" built in 1576, and
"The Globe" built in 1599, (which is closely connected with William
Shakespeare). Speaking about our times we should first of all
mention "The English National theatre","The Royal Shakespeare
company" and "Covent Garden". "Covent Garden" used to be a
fashionable promenade - it was, before then, a convent garden - but
when it became overrun with flower-sellers, orange-vendors and
vegetable-growers, the people moved to more exclusive surroundings
farther west, such as "St. Jame's Square". The first "Covent Garden
theatre" was built in 1732. It was burnt down in 1808 and rebuild
exactly a year after. It opened in September 1809, with
Shakespeare's "Macbeth". Since the middle of the last century
"Covent Garden" became exclusively devoted to opera. Now "Covent
Garden" is busier than ever, it is one of the few well-known opera
houses open for 11 months of the year and it employs over 600
people both of the Opera company and the Royal Ballet.
