The Stage Furniture of Early Modern Academic Drama

This note examines the stage furniture of early modern academic drama, focusing on the use of temporary “houses” in collegiate dining hall performances at Oxford, Cambridge, and the Inns of Court. While typically limited to two such structures, many plays required three or more, creating logistical and interpretative challenges. Drawing on case studies like Ruggle’s Ignoramus and Fraunce’s Victoria, the study questions prevailing reconstructions based solely on physical evidence and argues for incorporating textual analysis. KEYWORDS: academic drama; stage furniture; Inns of Court; early modern English drama