Our knowledge of the writing and performing of plays in early Wales derives entirely from two types of sources. The first comprises a small collection of playtexts which survive in manuscripts from the mid-sixteenth century and later; the second is a substantial collection of miscellaneous documentary material which makes reference to the performance of a play. In most cases, the performance is peripheral rather than central to the documents themselves. It should be clear from this brief description that our sources for early Welsh drama are limited, and our knowledge of the contexts and conditions for performing in early Wales is severely circumscribed by the nature and paucity of the surviving evidence. While this is true, there is nevertheless sufficient evidence to open a window on a…
4259 words
Citation: Klausner, David N.. "Early Welsh Drama". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 December 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=5766, accessed 25 November 2024.]
