A new history research project being spearheaded by Julia Swindells at Anglia Ruskin University is helping one of the oldest theatres in the country discover how theatre was performed over 200 years ago.

Anglia Ruskin English and History Departments are working together with the 1819 Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds to research how theatre was performed in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The research being undertaken by academics at Anglia Ruskin is helping the Theatre Royal to restore neglected plays from the Georgian era to the stage.

The collaboration came together in 2009 after Dr Swindells, a Research Fellow in the English Department of Anglia Ruskin, came to see a performance of the Theatre Royal's revival of the Georgian comedy He's Much to Blame by Thomas Holcroft. The Theatre's Artistic Director Colin Blumenau had been in touch with Dr Swindells after the publication of her 2001 book, "Glorious Causes", which outlines Georgian plays which could be revived. Together they would research how the plays could be performed and learn more about the dynamics of 18th and early 19th century theatre by seeing the works on stage in a true Georgian playhouse.

With the support of Professor Eugene Giddens, a Research Director at Anglia Ruskin, the University secured research grants which enabled the following projects:

• Dr David Taylor, a graduate student from Trinity College Cambridge to work as a Research Assistant to Colin Blumenau for 4 months. His support enabled the Theatre to enrich a series of readings of Georgian plays and an 18th century operetta The Poor Soldier in June 2010. This was the first staging of the play in England for over 100 years. Dr Taylor has subsequently written an article on his research with the Theatre.
• Dr Angie Sandhu to provide research for a book being compiled by Drs Swindells and Taylor, the Oxford Handbook to the Georgian Playhouse.
• Dr Sean Lang at the History Department of Anglia Ruskin to do contextual research on the period with a research assistant in History.
• Dr John Gardner to arrange for students at Anglia Ruskin to attend a number of productions at the Theatre

Julia Swindells is now working with the Theatre Royal helping to provide research towards their production of The London Merchant, a neglected 18th century tragedy from 1731. Together with the launch of the play Anglia Ruskin are hosting a Georgian Theatre weekend at the Theatre Royal, with talks, presentations, play readings and a performance of The London Merchant.

Since 2008 the Theatre Royal has also been working with The University of Essex to further research and study in the field of Georgian Theatre.

Dr Swindells commented: "What Colin and I have in common is the belief that the Georgian theatre repertoire needs to be researched and to be supported by an understanding of the cultural context of these plays in order for it to be properly staged. David Taylor and I as theatre historians have been working together over the past five years towards an understanding of the performance values of these plays rather than just examining them as literary texts. The joy of this project is that a variety of academic institutions, including the University of Essex, have been working together - it is a coalition of academics. Working with a Theatre has essential value in giving support to the relationship between academic research and theatrical practice."

The London Merchant is performing at the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds from Friday 1 - Saturday 16 October 2010 and the Georgian Theatre Weekend is on from Saturday 2 - Monday 4 October.

For tickets and further details please call the Theatre Royal Box Office 01284 769505 or visit www.theatreroyal.org