A Cultural History of Dramatis Personae

This book traces the cultural history of the construction of dramatic cast lists from the earliest printed plays to the present day, focusing on gender as a determinant factor and critical marker. It also considers factors such as race, class and sexuality. This study examines the range and organisation of classical, medieval and early modern dramatis personae in England and mainland Europe, theorising these arrangements and the ways in which conventions were gradually established. It then shows how these conventions changed over time with the introduction of women actors in the Restoration in England and women editors in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It briefly examines the way such practices were transferred to film, radio and TV and considers the impact of the advent of social media and online platforms.