ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -The King’s Company was one of two enterprises granted the rights to mount theatrical productions in London, after the London theatre closure had been lifted at the start of the English Restoration. It existed from 1660 to 1682, when it merged with the Duke’s Company to form the United Company.

Detailed explanation-2: -The two theatres, owned by William Davenant and Thomas Killigrew, had a monopoly. The spread of radical and political ideas to mass audiences needed to be controlled to avoid riots and insurrection. The old plays of Shakespeare, Beaumont, Fletcher and Jonson were the core of the repertoire.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Restoration period refers to the time following the restoration of the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies under King Charles II in 1660. While the exact dates differ depending on context, for Restoration drama it is often seen as continuing through until 1710, during the reign of Queen Anne.

Detailed explanation-4: -After he was restored to the throne, Charles II issued letters patent to Thomas Killigrew and William Davenant, granting them the monopoly right to form two London theatre companies to perform “serious” drama.

Detailed explanation-5: -Restoration theatres had a proscenium arch, with entrance doors for the players, and the part of the stage on which most of the acting took place stuck out into the auditorium. Above there was a balcony, good for scenes of coquetting and eavesdropping.