How long do you recon I'll be able to drag this introduction out for in my presentation tomorrow?

How did the introduction of Female actors and playwrights shape theatre during the restoration period?

During this presentation I plan to explore the changes in theatre and the influence that women had upon it during the restoration Period. I will look at important female playwrights and explore the styles of theatre that evolved because of the new role of women.

The restoration period stretched from 1660-1710 when Charles II returned from France after he was exiled.

He'd fled there because the parliament (led by Oliver Cromwell) over threw the throne and had the former king, Charles I, executed after he lost the civil war (1641-51) between the royalists and the parliamentarians.

Oliver Cromwell and the puritan movement disliked theatre, they were against it because they thought it obstructed England's potential to advance as a society. They were against men playing women on stage. Also, the actors and playwrights were commonly clients of the aristocracy, and strongly supported by royalists.

In 1642 a law was passed by the parliament to ban all theatre performances. Anyone caught attending plays were to be fined and all play houses were abolished. Including the globe theatre in 1644.

Charles II was crowned King in London on 23rd of April 1661.

All of the paperwork written before he was crowned was dated as if he'd succeeded his Father. I believe that this is because the decline in Britain after the monarchy was destroyed was embarrassing. Politically, Oliver Cromwell had driven the country into turmoil. The decision was made to invite Charles II back to claim the throne. With hope of a dramatic change.