Music hall refers to a genre of entertainment and the venue in which performances took place. Its origins lie in 1850s England where it began as a physical expansion of the tavern. As alcohol was banned in mainstream theatres but permitted in music halls, many…
While the origins of slapstick humour are most commonly associated with the highly physical Italian Commedia dell’Arte in the 16th to 18th centuries, there is evidence of the form existing earlier in Roman Atellan farces. The wooden paddle used to whack characters in Commedia dell’Arte…
Black comedy, also known as black humour and dark comedy, traditionally mocks serious subject matter. Topics can range from politics to religion and even death (gallows humour). By its very nature, black comedy will entertain some while, offending others. The term in its current use…