From the provinces, the representation of regional identity in the British music hall, c. 1880-1914

by Crocker, Nicole Amanda

This thesis examines the representation of regional identity in the British music hall, c. 1880-1914. It analyses the portrayal of the Wh, Scottish, English and Welsh in music hall song, costume and performance by examining advertising, photographs, art work, sheet music and contemporary accounts. This analysis reveals that the representation of regional identity in the music hall helped to construct notions of community which were based on tradition, custom and rural nostalgia. During this period Britain became increasingly more national, homogeneous, standardised and urbanised. The music hall refiected audience concem about these changes through the presentation of regional comunities which maintained their distinctive heritage through costume, language, tradition and regional character. At the same the, however, these music hall representations constructed a space for regional difference within the larger national community of the United Kingdom and its Empire. The representation of regional identity in the music hall offered audiences an image of Britain that was based on both division and inclusion, diversity and unity. iii