Oxford Companion to Theatre

This is a potted version of the chunkier two-volume Oxford Encyclopaedia of Theatre and Performance, which came out in 2003. There are still more than 2,400 entries, from the origins of drama up to our modern performance art.

It has been updated, with new entries on companies and personalities who have become prominent recently. Editor Dennis Kennedy’s definition of performance, interestingly, includes sport, street theatre, Wild West shows and even public executions. One of his principles was to ditch “longer and theoretical essays” and to have “shorter entries of practical use”. I searched in vain for certain topics, such as regional theatre or even Oxford theatres, and some favourite actors are absent (Alun Armstrong?), but overall this is undoubtedly a fine selection of writing on the field.

Despite the inevitable omissions, it will both appeal and be useful to a wide range of readers: theatre professionals, students and the general theatregoing public. There is a strong focus on the biographies of actors, playwrights, directors and designers.

I have spent hours flitting from one asterisked reference to another, absorbed in the labyrinth. So, for example, I mugged up on the origins of pantomime for the coming season (oh yes I did). Then I moved on to commedia dell’arte, then to ‘scenario’ and on to ‘proscenium arch’ and so on. Despite the supposed portable format, it’s still too big to lug to the Burton-Taylor to check out a few quick references in the interval. On the other hand, it is a most enjoyable browse. I’m sure I shall be referring to it with pleasure for years.