In the first major academic work to examine British variety theatre, Double provides a detailed history of this art form and analyses its performance dynamics and techniques. Encompassing singers, comedians, dancers, magicians, ventriloquists and diverse speciality acts, this vibrant book draws on a series of new interviews with variety veterans.

OLIVER DOUBLE is a Senior Lecturer in Drama at the University of Kent, UK.

Preface
Introduction
PART I: HISTORY OF VARIETY PERFORMANCE
Britain's Got Talent
The Variety Bill
Music Hall becomes Variety
The Golden Age of Variety
Variety Falls Apart
PART II: PERFORMANCE DYNAMICS
Personality
Participation
Skill
Novelty
PART III: VARIETY PERFORMANCE TODAY
Variety Now
Bibliography.