Equestrian Drama: A Concise Overview and Introduction to the Form

Live performing horses feature as the central and defining element of equestrian drama (or hippodrama), a mainly nineteenth century form of popular theatre. By tracing equestrian drama’s origins and evolution from key influences and related preliminary forms, to landmark early works, through the most noteworthy plays and productions from the form’s heyday, and into its twilight, this article provides a concise overview of equestrian drama, along with insight into the significance of the horse within this spectacular type of popular theatre. Identification and a concise explication of the main sub-genres of equestrian drama, along with an introduction to key figures and major innovations in stage design and technology stemming from equestrian drama are included. The eventual fading of equestrian drama’s popularity as a form of popular theatre around the turn and early decades of the twentieth century, and the ongoing evolution of the role horses play in live theatre and related equestrian entertainments, are also considered.