This book charts the development of theatrical presentation at a time of great cultural and political upheaval. With few exceptions, the documents from France, Germany, Russia, Scandinavia, Italy and Spain are unavailable to an English-reading public and many are out of print (or unpublished) in their original language. The volume contains numerous illustrations, the source location for each document and substantial bibliography.

This book makes available for the first time an overview of a significant segment of European theater history and, with few exceptions, none of the documents presented have been published in English before. Gathered from a rich variety of sources, including imperial and municipal edicts, contracts, architectural descriptions, playbills, stage directions, and actors' memoirs among others, the book sheds light on one of the most fascinating areas of cultural life in the German and Dutch speaking countries.