James Planché

James Robinson Planché ( born February 27, 1796 in Piccadilly, London, † May 30 1880 in Chelsea ( London) ) was a British playwright and historian. He was one of the most important representatives of early Victorian melodrama.

The descendant of escaped to England French Huguenots was married to the theater writer Elizabeth St. George. Planché was one of the founding members of the Garrick Club 1831st

In the German -speaking area Planché is primarily known as a librettist of the opera Oberon by Carl Maria von Weber. However, his main works are contributions to the English melodrama and other popular genres like theater extravaganza, burlesque, farce and pantomime. - From Tradition to the London theater out legislation that reserved the Patent Theatres the talk pieces, numerous theaters categories in high music and dance share had arisen.

Spectacular historic and magical substances made ​​up the main part of PLANCHES stage texts. Became famous melodrama The Vampire (1820 ), in which the vampire was able to appear and disappear by sinking in the stage floor. Since 1818 Planché delivered house author pieces for the Adelphi Theatre until he moved to Covent Garden. In addition, he worked for the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, the Olympic Theatre and the Theatre Royal Haymarket. In 1825, he led after the French model an early form of the revue in London.

Planché one of the pioneers of realistic theatrical scenery in the UK, similar to the Meiningen in the German language area. He also promoted the enforcement of copyright for dramatic works. In his later years, he found his interest in theater costumes to extensive historical and heraldic studies.