Dr Fran Eastwood, Bye Fellow and Supervisor in English, is organising a one-day conference ‘The Disruptive Stage – Stuart Masques and Court Entertainment’ on 22 April 2027. Here she tells us more in a Q&A.
What is a masque?
Masques were a type of court festivity popularised in England under the Stuarts, James I and Charles I, in the period 1603-1641. These court extravaganzas typically took place for a single night only, despite excessive expense and weeks of preparation.
When did they take place?
Performed on state occasions, including investitures and marriage celebrations, they were also a keenly anticipated component of the court Christmas festivities climaxing with Twelfth Night.
What did they involve?
Masques combined flamboyant costume and jewellery with novel design and moving mechanical sets provoking wonder among the spectators. Think Olympic opening ceremony as a rough modern-day analogy!
The scripted plot was shot through with music, song and dance. The dances spilled into the ‘revels’, a climax in which members of the elite audience were invited to participate.
Why have you called the conference ‘The Disruptive Stage’?
Masques are often perceived as a form of royal self-affirmation. Beginning with trouble (the anti-masque) they typically resolve in harmony which emanates from the monarch.
Masques, however, were not only a celebration but a sharp critique of the Stuart court. The entertainments shored up royal power but simultaneously showcased the cracks in the system as England moved towards civil war.
Why is it an important topic?
Masques challenged hierarchical forms of power while engaging with the gender dynamics of the period. The Stuart Queens, Anna of Denmark and Henrietta Maria, participated actively, leading the way for women appearing on the professional stage.
Who will be speaking?
Emulating the spirit of creative collaboration in which masques were designed by a team of experts, we are delighted to be gathering speakers from a range of disciplines including specialists in early modern music, drama, dance and fashion.
What do the talks cover?
We shall be discussing traditional masquing by Ben Jonson, Samuel Daniel and John Milton alongside lesser-known entertainments such as the masques of the teenage Rachel Fane. We’ll approach these entertainments from a range of angles including practice-based research, choreography, costume and musical history.
Tell us more about the performance by Dowland’s Foundry.
The conference will conclude with an early evening recital of lute-song and music based around the structure and narrative of masque by the trio Dowland’s Foundry. There are separate tickets available for those who wish to attend the performance only. You are warmly welcome!
Why is the conference taking place at Christ’s?
John Milton is an alumnus of Christ’s and it is exciting to hold this event in a location connected with him as a masque writer. We shall display some of our relevant archival material for those who are attending the conference.
Book here for the conference and recital (£15)
Book here for the recital only (£5)
More including a provisional schedule and speakers at The Disruptive Stage: Stuart Masques and Court Entertainment | Christs College Cambridge.