Theatres Act 1968

E814454

The Theatres Act 1968 is a UK law that ended state censorship of the stage and guaranteed greater freedom of theatrical expression.

Try in SPARQL Jump to: Statements Referenced by

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom statute
abolished stage censorship by the Lord Chamberlain
aim to modernise theatre law
to protect artistic freedom in theatrical performances
allows public performance of plays without prior official licensing
appliesTo theatres
theatrical performances
cameIntoForce 1968
citation 1968 c. 54
country United Kingdom
effectOnInstitution ended the Lord Chamberlain’s role as theatre censor
hasSectionOn licensing of theatres
offences in connection with performances
powers of local authorities regarding theatres
historicalContext liberalisation of censorship laws in the 1960s United Kingdom
impact expanded scope for controversial and experimental theatre in the UK
jurisdiction England and Wales
Scotland
languageOfDocument English
legalArea civil liberties
constitutional law
entertainment law
legislature Parliament of the United Kingdom NERFINISHED
longTitle An Act to abolish censorship of the theatre and to amend the law in respect of theatres and theatrical performances; and for purposes connected therewith.
mainEffect ended state censorship of the stage in the UK
guaranteed greater freedom of theatrical expression
removed requirement for plays to be licensed by the Lord Chamberlain
providesFor defences to obscenity charges for theatres
local authority powers over theatre licensing
protection of theatres from prosecution when performance is in the public good
relatedTo Human Rights Act 1998 NERFINISHED
Obscene Publications Act 1959 NERFINISHED
repealedAct Dramatic Performances Act 1788 NERFINISHED
Dramatic Performances Act 1878 NERFINISHED
Theatres Act 1843 NERFINISHED
royalAssentDate 1968-07-26
shortTitle Theatres Act 1968 NERFINISHED
status Amended
subjectMatter censorship
freedom of expression
theatre regulation
territorialExtent England and Wales NERFINISHED
Scotland NERFINISHED
transferredFunctionFrom Lord Chamberlain NERFINISHED
typeOfCensorshipAddressed prior restraint on theatrical performances
yearEnacted 1968

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.