William presents a special extended lecture looking at Victorian entertainment.
What kept the Victorians amused? Not just the middle classes, with increased finances and leisure time, but the working classes too, sought new forms of entertainment. Music halls provided a new form of theatre, and pantomimes became ever more lavish, in the traditional theatres. Sport for the first time became a mass activity with football, cricket and rugby leading the way. However, most entertainments remained doggedly male and driven by Victorian class distinctions.
We shall hope to learn new things as we try to AMUSE ourselves in our day of study.
William Tyler MBE has a large following at JW3, he is a freelance educator, lecturer, public speaker, writer and consultant with a main focus on History. He was the Principal of The City Lit, Britain’s largest college of adult education. He was his awarded his MBE for services to education. During lockdown William created a much followed blog for those attending his sessions.
