The Masque

The masque as a genre grew out of various court entertainments and folk customs. It flourished during the reigns of the Tudor and Stuart monarchs, and yet almost immediately became obsolete during the British Civil War as a result of the challenge to the monarchy. A masque was a spectacle performed at court or at the manor of a member of the nobility; its purpose was to glorify the court or a particular aristocrat. The masque included diverse artistic elements at different stages in its development but invariably included choreographed dances by masked performers; members of the nobility were often participants.