This website supports the work of theatre historians,
practitioners, and scholars of British literature and culture engaged
in exploring how electronic editing, resources, and collaboration can
enhance scholarship and teaching about this segment of dramaturgical
history. We mount online texts of plays not widely available in print,
publish working papers and responses on important issues, and provide
research and teaching resources that support the working group that
uses the site and any other teachers, students, or theatre artists who
find the site useful.
We approach the site’s development guided by a few principles:
- The “community” of people who use the site is open and flexible, and yet aims
to reflect on the varied concerns that drive different participants’
work. Our experience tells us that, even though there might not
be a listserv that is part of this project (yet), there is plenty
of interaction that takes place through the use of the resources
and communications that take place offline.
- In many cases, it is better to publish a simply edited play to make it available
soon rather than wait until a more complex edition is developed.
(Fortunately, the Web keeps this from being an either/or proposition,
since updating is always possible.)
- The site’s topic is more a focus of concern, than a boundary; therefore, we are
open to considering topics and texts that somehow might bear
on investigation of the BWP1800 focus. Make us an offer...
- Theatre practice is an important and underappreciated form of inquiry into dramaturgical
history. And scholars could do a lot more to support the work
of dramaturges, directors, actors, and designers.
- Dramatic scripts, while just one kind of artifact important to theatre history,
are some of the easiest to which we can provide access. Again,
if you have an idea for mounting other kinds of resources relevant
to the site’s concerns, let us know ...
- For the site to continue to serve its purposes, we will pursue funding and resources
as creatively as we can. If you would like to suggest ideas to
us, we are listening.
With so few plays written by women in the Romantic era currently in print, electronic
publishing has made it possible to kick start reconsideration of
these works. And publication and production opportunities have
followed from increased access.
We are always interested in hearing from users of the site, whether with corrections,
suggestions, brilliant ideas, or just encouraging words. Please
write to us with your ideas since the site’s continued value depends
on your input.
Thomas C. Crochunis and Michael Eberle-Sinatra
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