Restoration playhouse

Restoration playhouses, established in England after the monarchy's return in 1660, were a departure from earlier Elizabethan theaters. King Charles II, influenced by his time in France, granted patents for two companies, the King's Players and the Duke's Players, who converted indoor tennis courts into temporary theaters. Later, purpose-built structures like the Duke's Theatre and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, were constructed.

These theaters blended Continental innovations with Elizabethan stage features, including a curved stage extending beyond the proscenium arch. A significant change was the introduction of actresses, with Nell Gwyn being a notable example. The plays staged were often reworkings of older works, adapted for an aristocratic audience that favored witty conversation and satirical portrayals, leading to the development of the "comedy of manners." This era saw playwrights like Sir George Etherege and William Wycherley develop elegant prose drama, refined by later writers such as William Congreve.12

However, Restoration theater's focus on a select aristocratic audience meant it didn't represent broader society and struggled financially, eventually leading to the merger of the two main companies in 1682.1