Hippodrama

Hippodrama, horse drama, or equestrian drama is a genre of theatrical show blending circus horsemanship display with popular melodrama theatre. Kimberly Poppiti defines it as, "plays written or performed to include a live horse or horses enacting significant action or characters as a necessary part of the plot." Arthur Saxon defines the form similarly, as “[...] literally a play in which trained horses are considered as actors, with business, often leading actions, of their own to perform.” Evolving from earlier equestrian circus, pioneered by equestrians including, most famously, Philip Astley in the 1760s, it relied on drama plays written specifically for the genre; trained horses were considered actors along with humans and were even awarded leading roles. Anthony Hippisley-Coxe described hippodrama as "a bastard entertainment born of a misalliance between the circus and the theatre ... that actually inhibited the development of the circus".

History

Horses appeared in Western European theater in the second half of the 18th century, both on stage and in aerial stunts (flying Pegasus). Hippodrama emerged in the turn of the 19th century in England, introduced by Philip Astley in outdoor settings. At this time, the Licensing Act of 1737 was in effect. This act only allowed three theaters to perform “legitimate theater.” These theaters included Covent Garden, Drury Lane, and the summer theatre in the Haymarket. These theaters had patents on real drama. Other theaters, such as Astley’s Amphitheater and the Royal Circus, only had licenses for “public dancing and music” and “for other public entertainments of the like kind”. Astley’s horse acts in his circus were allowed within his license. However, Astley wanted to produce shows more like “legitimate theater.” He soon realized that he could produce real drama as long as the drama was performed on horseback. Thus, hippodrama was born. He adapted common stories and plays in a way where they could be performed on horses. Not only that, but the horses were the main actors. The horses had their own business, or leading actions, to perform that helped carry out the plot. Also at this time, gradual closing of country fairs and discharge of cavalrymen and horse grooms after the end of the Continental Wars provided both experienced staff and public interest to the new show.

Early hippodrama were presented in London at Astley's Amphitheatre, Royal Circus and Olympic Pavilion; and in Paris at Cirque Olympique, where 36 horse riders could perform simultaneously. Theatres built for hippodramas combined proscenium stage with dirt-floored riding arena separated by orchestra pit; scene and arena were connected by ramps, forming a single performing space. Signor Manfredi presented the first equestrian drama in the United States with his production of "La Fille Hussard" during the 1802-1803 season in New York at the Park Theatre. The Circus of Pepin and Breschard presented Don Quixote de la Mancha "on horseback and on foot, with combats" in New York City on August 12, 1809. Pepin and Breschard's company presented hippodramas in the newly formed United States from at least 1809 until 1815. Christoph de Bach produced similar entertainment in Vienna. Astley's 1810 financial success with The Blood Red Knight may have influenced the decision of reluctant management of Covent Garden and Drury Lane theatres to join the lucrative business. The first equestrian drama on the legitimate stage of London was an equestrianized production of "Blue Beard" at Covent Garden in February 1811. This production was soon followed, later that same season, by the debut of the first play written specifically to include horses, "Timour the Tartar," which debuted in the spring of 1811, also at Covent Garden. "Timour the Tartar" soon moved to the United States, premiering at New York's Olympic Theatre on 12 September 1812. Hippodrama plays, tailored for the masses, revolved around colourful Eastern subjects like Timour the Tartar or Mazeppa, or the Wild Horse of Tartary and the European military past (Marlborough's Heroic Deeds). Mazeppa, first staged in England in 1823, became a hit of Astley's Amphitheater in 1831 and was performed by travelling companies in the United States from 1833; in the 1860s it became a trademark show for Adah Isaacs Menken. Adaptations of William Shakespeare (Richard III) were another common choice.

Equestrian drama became popular in the United States, as well as in England and France, and the Lafayette Circus in New York City, inaugurated in 1825, was the first American theatre building specifically designed for hippodrama, followed by the Philadelphia Amphitheater and the Baltimore Roman Amphitheatre. Hippodrama shows attracted working class audiences that included labourers and seamen, "ready to riot at the slightest provocations"; "in fact, much of recorded rowdyism of the mid-1820s in New York City took place at Lafayette Circus.

The Equestrian Circus in Saint Petersburg, Russia was built by Alberto Cavos in 1847.

The American Hengler's Circus prospered in the 1850s under the heading of Hengler's Colossal Hippodrama, but elsewhere popularity of the genre faded by the middle of the century. It was revived in France under Napoleon III, especially with the 1863 production of the Battle of Marengo and in 1880 Michel Strogoff. The United States saw a brief revival of the genre in the late 1880s and 1890s, helped by the invention of specially designed stage machinery built for the production of equestrian dramas that included movement by horses on stage that could range from simple horse and buggy rides, to displays of circus equestrianism, to (most notably) onstage horse races. Film, introduced at the turn of the 20th century, finally replaced hippodrama as the show for the masses.

In modern times

In recent times, the Cavalia circus/show/production company (and other similar companies) have produced a well-received modern form that can be considered hippodrama, which tours internationally, using as many as 30 horses per show and playing for up to two thousand people at a time.

A modern one-of-a-kind hippodrama directed by Franz Abraham, an equestrian reenactment of Ben Hur, took place at the O2 arena, London on September 15, 2009. The show employed one hundred animals (including thirty-two horses) and four hundred people.

Latest News

• From the Outside, In: Six Ways to Make Your Farm Shine in the Real Estate Market
• The evolution of the horse: part 4 - Modern horses, Genome sequencing, Pleistocene extinctions and Return to the Americas
• The evolution of the horse: part 3 - The forest-suited form was Kalobatippus whose second and fourth front toes were long, well-suited travel [...]
• The evolution of the horse: part 2 - Eocene and Oligocene: early equids - Eohippus, Orohippus, Epihippus, Mesohippus and Miohippus
• The evolution of the horse, a mammal of the family Equidae, occurred over a geologic time scale of 50 million years, transforming the small [...]
• Equine coronavirus is NOT the same as the strain of coronavirus referred to as COVID-19, and cannot be transmitted to humans.
• Hippodrama, horse drama, or equestrian drama is a genre of theatrical show blending circus horsemanship display with popular [...]
• Since it's Valentine's Day we thought we'd share the love with five fun (and interesting) Valentine's Day related facts about your horse [...]
• For centuries, humans have shared a special bond with horses, so it makes sense that there is no shortage of books about them.
• Barns and stables, filled with highly flammable hay, bedding, and feed, are a big fire risk. Add the presence of panicked animals and you have [...]
• Compared to other horses, ponies often exhibit thicker manes, tails and overall coat, as well as proportionally shorter [...]
• The history of the modern circus is deeply rooted in horsemanship. The first modern circuses, which took place during the 18th century [...]
• Arabian horses are the topic of many myths and legends. One origin story tells how Muhammad chose his foundation mares by a test of their [...]
• If our horses could share their New Year's Resolutions, we bet they'd go something like this [...]
• The trick to winning the race, advises a wise Paddy Payne to daughter Michelle, is to go a steady pace until finding [...]
• A pantomime horse is a theatrical representation of a horse or other quadruped by two actors in a single costume who cooperate and [...]
• Orbaks are the space horses in "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" directed by J.J. Abrams
• The Nokk is a character in Disney’s 2019 animated feature Frozen II. It is the horse-shaped elemental spirit of [...]
• New Year's Day is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Racing only as a two-year-old he won two of his three races including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
• Thanksgiving is a time of reflection. While your horse can't speak, we'll bet that he's thankful for a whole lot this Thanksgiving.
• The wild horse (Equus ferus) is a species of the genus Equus, which includes as subspecies the modern domesticated horse [...]
• Virtual horse games sound like something for small children, but plenty of adults play them. Sometimes they are horse lovers [...]
• The Banker horse is a breed of feral horse (Equus ferus caballus) living on barrier islands in North Carolina's Outer Banks.
• Classical dressage evolved from cavalry movements and training for the battlefield, and has since developed into the competitive dressage seen today.
• White horses are born white and stay white throughout their lives. White horses may have brown, blue, or hazel eyes.
• Young Albert enlists to serve in World War I after his beloved horse is sold to the cavalry. Albert's hopeful journey takes him out of England and [...]
• White horses have a special significance in the mythologies of cultures around the world. They are often associated with the sun chariot [...]
• In 1872, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr. traveled to England, visiting Epsom in Surrey where The Derby had been running annually since 1780.
• Pegasus is a mythical winged divine horse, and one of the most recognized creatures in Greek mythology.
• The current Olympic equestrian disciplines are Dressage, Eventing, and Jumping. In each discipline, both individual and team medals are awarded.
• When you are looking to buy or sell property you are sure to have certain things in mind. This is a possibility especially if you have a specific need for it.
• If you are thinking of buying or selling horse property, register with a leading website that focuses on equine properties for sale.
• Unlike buying a home or a property, when it comes to buying an equestrian property to raise horses, the whole concept is something entirely different.
• You can sell equestrian real estate without much difficulty because there are unique websites that cater to buyers & sellers from around the world.
• There are several equestrian properties for sale but it is necessary to consider some basic points before you invest in a property.
• When you are planning your horse property for listing, do it through a popular and reliable website for equine real estate.
• Perhaps the most famous warhorse remains disputed; nonetheless, according to legend The TROJAN HORSE
• Horse racing in the United States dates back to 1665, which saw the establishment of the Newmarket course in Salisbury, New York.
• The American Quarter Horse, the official State Horse of Texas, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances.
• Horse racing is a sport that translates well to board games. These are our picks for the best horse-racing board games.
• Between adhering to building codes and choosing the best equipment, there are many details to bear in mind when planning your dream stall barn.
• A movie ranch is a ranch that is at least partially dedicated for the creation and production of motion pictures and television productions.
• Everyone adores horses, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that there are tons of movies starring these beautiful creatures.
• Horses have captured the imagination and emotion of mankind for centuries – perhaps, in a way that no other species of animal ever has.
• Horse farms are often considered one of the most “green” businesses in agriculture. We don’t spread undue amounts of chemical fertilizer.
• Do you dream of owning your own stable, or perhaps just owning a place where you can keep your horses in the backyard?
• Anne Kusian, Arabian horse breeder and riding instructor are giving you a flavor of what are the advantages of owning a horse ranch.