Licensing of Theatres

Licensing of Theatres. Stage plays in Britain may not be publicly performed except on premises licensed as suitable for the purpose. Under the Theatres Act of 1843 the monopoly of the Patent Theatres was abolished, and the powers of the Lord Chamberlain to license theatres (as distinct from his responsibility for the censorship of plays) were limited to London, Brighton, Windsor, and other places of royal residence. Detailed requirements for licensing were evolved, mainly relating to the safety and comfort of the public. These regulations were confirmed by the Theatres Act of 1968, which transferred the licensing authority for the central London area to the Greater London Council. The two former Patent Theatres, Covent Garden and Drury Lane, although nominally exempt from the need to be licensed by the GLC, were made subject to the same requirements as other London theatres. Licensing authorities are forbidden under the Act to stipulate conditions concerning the nature of the plays performed or the manner of their performance. After the abolition of the GLC in 1986 authority devolved to individual boroughs.