| Summary: | As the first comprehensive academic survey of British musical theatre from its origins to its current state, this volume is a detailed guide to understanding a vibrant form of entertainment 'made in Britain'. It provides both a historical account of musical theatre from 1728 to the present day and a range of in-depth critical analyses of key works and productions that illustrate the aesthetic values and sociocultural meanings of the genre. The twenty-eight essays offer new perspectives on the British musical, conceiving it as a cultural form complementary to the American musical rather than its poor relation, and questioning the cultural bias that views shows initiated in the West End of London as second-rate imitations of classic Broadway models
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