ABSTRACT
The energy released by Ibsenism in the British theatre asked how to capitalise upon or expand this kind of theatre in a British context. In the 1880s demands for a state-organised theatre along the lines of the Comédie Française increased. William Archer called for ‘an endowed theatre’ and later, especially when doubts as to the democratic nature of state subsidy were voiced, for a ‘confraternity of wealthy art lovers’ to combine to form such a theatre. The Independent Theatre’s audiences tended to be middle class and progressive, perhaps Fabian socialist. They watched in silence and found the plays educative and supportive and brought a new seriousness and a new level of commitment to the theatre. Shaw had been inspired to write drama by the example of Ibsen. His first play, Widowers’ Houses , had been presented by the Independent Theatre for two performances after what Shaw’s biographer called ‘ramshackle rehearsals’.
