Theatres Act 1968

{{One source|date=October 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox UK legislation

| short_title = Theatres Act 1968

| type = Act

| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom

| long_title = An Act to abolish censorship of the theatre and to amend the law in respect of theatres and theatrical performances.

| year = 1968

| citation = 1968 c. 54

| introduced_commons =

| introduced_lords =

| territorial_extent = England and Wales, Scotland

| royal_assent = 26 July 1968

| commencement = 26 September 1968

| expiry_date =

| repeal_date =

| amends =

| replaces = Theatres Act 1843

| amendments = {{ubli|Licensing Act 2003|Criminal Law Act 1977|Criminal Procedure Act 1975|Criminal Justice Act 1982|Broadcasting Act 1990|Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006|Courts Act 1971|Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984|Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (Consequential Modifications and Savings) Order 2006|Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006|London Local Authorities Act 1991|Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980}}

| repealing_legislation = {{ubli|Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981|Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982|Coroners and Justice Act 2009|Public Order Act 1986|Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984|Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Supplementary, Transitional, Transitory and Saving Provisions) Order 2013|Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (Consequential Modifications and Savings) Order 2006|Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977|Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980|Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982|Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979}}

| related_legislation =

| status = current

| legislation_history =

| theyworkforyou = Theatres Act 1968

| millbankhansard =

| original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/54/enacted

| revised_text =

| use_new_UK-LEG = yes

| UK-LEG_title =

| collapsed =

}}

The Theatres Act 1968 (c. 54) abolished stage censorship in the United Kingdom, receiving royal assent on 26 July 1968, after passing both Houses of Parliament.[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/54 "Theatres Act 1968"]. www.legislation.gov.uk

Since 1737, scripts had been licensed for performance by the Lord Chamberlain's Office (under the Theatres Act 1843, a continuation of the Licensing Act 1737) a measure initially introduced to protect Robert Walpole's administration from political satire. By the late 19th century the Lord Chamberlain's Office had become the arbiter of moral taste on the stage, and the "Angry Young Men" of the 1950s were in some ways a reaction against the banality of the morally conservative and formally restricted period of theatre that had preceded them.

Theatre critic Kenneth Tynan, whilst working with Laurence Olivier as literary manager and Dramaturg of the National Theatre Company had been campaigning for liberalisation for many years. A prosecution had succeeded in 1966 against those responsible for producing Edward Bond's play Saved at the Royal Court and John Osborne's play A Patriot for Me, cut by the censor, was put on at the Royal Court with the theatre turning itself into a private members' club. The strong response to these causes célèbres helped lead to the abolition of theatre censorship in Great Britain.