Project blog
The Civic London project will transcribe and publish records of dramatic and musical performance in the City of London from the start of the reign of Elizabeth I to 1642, when the city's theatres were closed down by Act of Parliament. The project focuses on civic performance: activities which were staged or sponsored by the city’s governing authorities, livery companies and other public bodies. The streets of the early modern city and its company halls were alive with the sounds of drummers, trumpeters and other musicians accompanying civic pageantry, often with performances scripted by the same playwrights and performed by the same actors as worked in the theatres.
On this site you can find out the latest news from the project and read more about the early modern civic records we work with.
Categories used most frequently by the blogger:
Research findings early modern london Events History pageantry drama London
Whifflers, boy players and drummers: project team presents findings
15 January 2021
On 13th January 2021 project PI Tracey Hill and postdoctoral research assistant Charlie Berry gave a paper to the Institute of Historical Research’s Centre for People, Place and...
Lord Mayor’s Show 1620 #LMS1620 round-up
9 November 2020
Model of the Haberdashers’ Company Barge, c. 1650. Image courtesy of the Company. On 29th October 2020, project PI Tracey Hill brought the 1620 Lord Mayor’s Show to life...
Lord Mayor’s Show 1620 live-tweet
26 October 2020
Due to COVID-19, this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show in the City of London has been cancelled. While the modern pageantry is off, the Civic London team are giving you the opportunity...
Patron saints in livery company pageantry
27 May 2020
The period 1558-1642 was a time of great debate and upheaval over religious belief in England. Following a return to Catholicism under Mary I, the reign of Elizabeth I was when the...