During the 19th century great changes took place in the theatre. For many years the actor's life was a hard one, often underpaid and exploited. Managers, too, had their problems. Stage managers, ballet masters, scene painters and lighting experts were frequently in competition. Gradually acting became a more suitable profession for ladies and gentlemen. Henry Irving and his colleagues were able to exploit the more sophisticated stage machinery and lighting effectively and to improve costume and scenic design. Drawn from the writings of contemporary journalists, actors and managers, this anthology recreates the atmosphere of the Victorian theatrical scene. Russell Jackson is a fellow of the Shakespeare Institute and lecturer in the School of English of the University of Birmingham...