Lord Chamberlain's requirements
Encyclopedia
The Lord Chamberlain
's requirements were a set of four prerequisites for a licence for a production in British theatres. These were printed in theatre programmes so the audience could be aware of them. The Lord Chamberlain's Office
had control of theatres until 1968, including censorship
of the production content as well as for logistical matters. In the 1980s, they were replaced by similar requirements applied by a local licensing authority.
The requirements cover:
Three of the requirements (leaving the theatre, freedom of the gangways and the operation of the safety curtain) were set to music by Flanders and Swann
for the revue Fresh Airs
and were later used as encores for their 'Hat' performances.
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
's requirements were a set of four prerequisites for a licence for a production in British theatres. These were printed in theatre programmes so the audience could be aware of them. The Lord Chamberlain's Office
Lord Chamberlain's Office
The Lord Chamberlain's Office is a department within the British Royal Household. It is presently concerned with matters such as protocol, state visits, investitures, garden parties, the State Opening of Parliament, royal weddings and funerals. For example, in April 2005 it organised the wedding of...
had control of theatres until 1968, including censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
of the production content as well as for logistical matters. In the 1980s, they were replaced by similar requirements applied by a local licensing authority.
The requirements cover:
- Leaving the theatre at the end of the performance.
- Freedom of gangways and passages from obstruction.
- Limitations on standees.
- Operation of the safety curtainSafety curtainA safety curtain is a fire safety precaution used in large proscenium theatres. It is usually a heavy fibreglass or iron curtain located immediately behind the proscenium arch. Asbestos-based materials were originally used to manufacture the curtain, before the dangers of asbestos were discovered...
during each performance.
Three of the requirements (leaving the theatre, freedom of the gangways and the operation of the safety curtain) were set to music by Flanders and Swann
Flanders and Swann
The British duo Flanders and Swann were the actor and singer Michael Flanders and the composer, pianist and linguist Donald Swann , who collaborated in writing and performing comic songs....
for the revue Fresh Airs
Fresh Airs
Fresh Airs was a revue produced by Laurier Lister that opened in Brighton in 1955. It was the last in his series of 'Airs' revues before Flanders & Swann started performing for themselves in At the Drop of a Hat.- Songs :...
and were later used as encores for their 'Hat' performances.