Steve Race, MP, told us about issues he is aware of in the city, and would particularly like to see our history celebrated more. He acknowledged our Society’s work and said he found it an important contribution to city life. He said we did a great job, particularly in celebrating the city’s heritage through our blue plaques. Steve Race took several questions about issues relating to the government’s ambition to build 1.5 million homes in 5 years, although we were not convinced that the government has considered all the measures necessary to reach their target of 370 homes a year, including the workforce needed to reach this ambition.
Following this we had an entertaining talk from Alan Caig about how theatre has developed locally and nationally since the 16c., often controlled by government acts and laws. From the 14c. a group called the Brotherhood of Brothelyngham mocked the established church in Exeter through plays, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Brothelyngham . Theatrical performance developed from the 16c, especially following the success of Shakespeare and others dramatists who toured across the country. The first purpose built theatre was in Waterbeer Street, behind the Guildhall. We heard that the Licensing Act 1737 was introduced to control and censor what was being said about the British government through theatre, with only two theatres in London receiving a licence. Alan talked about local journalist Andrew Brice who was a supporter of the early theatre in Exeter, wrote prologues to plays, and got around the theatre licensing act by giving free seats at his theatre in return for purchasing a sachet of tooth powder. Fascinating to hear about the development of dedicated theatres from the first in Gandy Street that opened in 1735, but before this the Seven Stars in Okehampton Road was the venue for performance. Alan went on to tell us about the many theatres built in the city and fires, culminating with the great Theatre Royal fire in 1887 when 186 people died. An inquiry was held which reported only a few weeks after the event and its recommendations on things like stage safety curtains, fire exits and not blocking gangways have formed the basis of fire safety in theatres ever since.
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