RESTORATION COMEDY

THE RISE AND FALL OF

THE RISE AND FALL OF

KING CHARLES II

RESTORATION COMEDY

KING JAMES II

After being exiled to France, Charles II returned to England and resumed the throne, disestablishing the Puritan's rule. Rather than maintaining the ban on stage performances established by the Puritans, King Charles II encouraged theater, granting patents to playwrights such as Thomas Killigrew and Sir William Daverant. Furthermore, Charles presented new styles of theater he had learned of in France. From these patents, playwrights were able to form theater companies and build playhouses for the first time in years.

King James II was easily influenced by the social pressure the Puritans put upon him, and he quickly placed fines on playwrights and restricted theater, effectively ending the era of Restoration theater.

In the 1600s, Puritans controlled many facets of England.

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