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Nov 24, 2023 · Let’s take a look at the history of British comedy. Early Roots of British Comedy. British comedy didn’t just pop up out of nowhere: in fact, British humour can be traced back to the medieval era, where jesters and minstrels would perform in the street (and at dedicated street shows) for money.
British comedy history is measured in centuries. Shakespeare incorporated many chase scenes and beatings into his comedies, such as in his play The Comedy of Errors. Punch and Judy made their first recorded appearance in Britain in 1662, when Samuel Pepys noted a "pretty" puppet play being performed in Covent Garden, London. [1]
- Elizabethan and Jacobean Comedy
- Commedia Dell’Arte
- Punch & Judy
- Music Hall
- Pantomime
- 80s New Wave and Stand-Up
Ben Johnson wrote both tragedies and comedies often filling his plays with racy political passages. Unlike Shakespeare, Johnson specialised in city-based comedies and is best known for popularising the comedy of humours. Volponeis one of Johnson’s most well-known plays, a comedy taking an intensely sceptical view of human nature. The premise of the...
Commedia dell’arte was a whimsical theatrical art form that emerged in northern Italy in the 15th century and gained popularity throughout Europe in the 16th century. Its form was distinguished by its cast of larger-than-life stock characters, played by professional actors who travelled in troupes and often played on temporary stages and city stree...
‘That’s the way to do it!’is the still recognised catchphrase of the famous anarchic character from a traditional puppet show that dates back to 1827 and has been performed for over 300 years. The archetypical and controversial British figure Punch, with his long-suffering wife Judy, has origins in the 16th century Italian puppet, Pulcinella, a sto...
The origins of Music Hall began in 18th century coffee houses, saloon bars and taverns across England and Europe. Performers would entertain customers while they were enjoying a beverage or meal. Some of the venues began to dedicate more time to these often-bawdy entertainments featuring working-class artists and even arranging rooms specifically f...
The unique, theatrical entertainment and art form has its roots in commedia dell’arte, where its presentation of mischievous characters and slapstick comedy can be traced back to the 16th century. John Rich, a dancer, acrobat and mime artist in the 1720s, is a key figure in the emergence of pantomime. Rich, who managed a theatre in London’s Lincoln...
In November 1982, Britain saw the brand-new ‘Channel Four’ channel launching and debuting a comedy show, Comic Strip Presentsfeaturing acting talents Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer and Ade Edmonson. The anarchic series, often parodying establishment figures, reflected a radical change in comedy in the country inspired by s...
Dec 7, 2018 · Peep Show is one the greatest British comedy shows of all time. So what did they do? They tried to bring the beloved show to the U.S. and make an American version.
Sep 24, 2012 · Whether the sophisticated stylings of Noel Coward or the outrageous offerings of French & Saunders, British television comedies (aka Britcoms) have provided countless hours of entertainment to...
Jan 24, 2021 · America and Britain have a long history with each other. In film and television, comedy is one aspect that has been influenced by our British cousins over the years. In modern times, American comedy is starting to resemble traditional British humor.
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Oct 18, 2022 · But it’s also a version of a tale that’s been told repeatedly over the past 20-plus years: Talented writers and performers twisting distinctly British comedy into something that Americans...
