Transformations of Space and the Collective Enterprise in Marston's Early Plays for the Paul's Playhouse

Abstract

In this analysis of his early, experimental plays for the Paul's playhouse, John Marston's transformations of space are presented as the key aspect of a process of negotiation and definition. The article considers playhouse location and construction, the nature of shared space, and the character of the collective enterprise to which Marston commits his actors and spectators. It is argued that the playwright processed the spatial codes of public playhouses with particular deliberation. Marston's is seen as a saturated theatricality which exploits the imaginative significations of space, explores shifting identities and presents a play of social mastery.