Examines seventy--plus interludes written between 1497 and 1593 for rime scheme, verse, and subject.

The important influence of the Tudor 'interlude' on later Elizabethan drama is now widely recognized and the inherent theatrical values of these short plays of the era which preceded the opening of permanent theatres have become increasingly apparent through modern productions and study. Largely written for performance by travelling players in a variety of situations, their dramatic technique and methods of staging provide valuable clues for an understanding of Shakespearean theatre. The plays given here represent the interlude in its popular and courtly forms. All are newly edited from the earliest originals and the volume includes an introduction and full explanatory notes.