The Lost Plays Database is a wiki-style forum for scholars to share information about lost plays in England, 1580-1642. Its purpose is to add lost plays to scholarly discussions of early modern theatrical activity.
The editors believe that lost plays are a potential source of significant information on playwrights, playing companies, venues in London and the provinces, repertory studies, and audiences. The database provides a web-accessible, web-editable site for data on these plays concerning theatrical provenance, sources, genre, and authorship.
Users of the Lost Plays Database will find information drawn from the following, as applicable:
• Stationers' Register
• Henslowe's Diary
• Legal records
• Narrative and dramatic sources
• Scholarly commentary
• Online databases and digital archives
Unlike many public wikis, the Lost Plays Database is not open to public editing: for quality control, potential contributors must apply to the editors for contributing privileges (see How to Contribute).
