The Theatre as a Venue and Tool of Social Change in the “Long” 19th Century (An introduction)

The present thematic issue of Forum Historiae 2/2025, Theatre as a Venue and Tool of Social Change in the “Long” 19th Century, seeks to contribute to the current scholarly discourse on the necessity of a cultural turn within the humanities, particularly in the field of (musical) theatre historiography. Drawing on the works of European cultural historians, the issue highlights recent research trends that may serve as suitable tools for identifying key elements in the transformation of Central and East-Central European society in the given period “in and through the theatre.” Individual contributions in this issue approach the central theme from political, economic, institutional, and sociological perspectives, with authors investigating previously unexplored aspects of theatre culture. At the same time, innovative theoretical processes are employed as a way of interpreting familiar objects. Rather than seeking to provide a comprehensive treatment of the subject, the aim here is to outline new directions in cultural historiography within the region—approaches that may enhance the potential for comparative analyses along with other European developments.