IMC 2010: Sessions

Session 1208: In Memory of Barbara Palmer, III: Towneley after Palmer - Wakefield to Burnley Both Ways

Wednesday 14 July 2010, 14.15-15.45

Sponsor:	Medieval English Theatre / Records of Early English Drama
Organisers:	Philip Butterworth, Institute for Medieval Studies, University of Leeds Sally-Beth MacLean, Records of Early English Drama, University of Toronto, Downtown
Moderator/Chair:	Richard Rastall, School of Music, University of Leeds
Paper 1208-a	The Towneley Plays: What is Known? (Language: English) Meg Twycross, Department of English & Creative Writing, Lancaster University Olga Horner, Lancaster University Index terms: Performance Arts - General, Performance Arts - Drama
Paper 1208-b	The Towneley Plays: Some Critical Questions (Language: English) Pamela M. King, Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Bristol Index terms: Performance Arts - General, Performance Arts - Drama
Paper 1208-c	Why Not Wakefield?: A Reconsideration of the Home of the Towneley Plays (Language: English) Peter Meredith, School of English, University of Leeds Index terms: Performance Arts - General, Performance Arts - Drama
Abstract	Knowledge of the Towneley Plays, previously known as the Wakefield Plays or Cycle , seems to have come a long way. But has it? For instance, what do we know about the history of the manuscript? And how do we know? Do we know for whom the manuscript was written? Did it have anything to do with Whalley Abbey? What did it have to do with the Towneleys? What do marginal annotations tells us? Although some of the local evidence that relates to Wakefield has been discovered to have been manufactured does this discovery preclude Wakefield as the home of the Towneley Plays? These questions will form the basis of some sceptical investigation.