Stage Fright

Stage Fright, Volume 1, examines the complex relationship between culture and power in late imperial Russia. Author Paul Du Quenoy challenges the common historical narrative that the performing arts of this era were merely a dress rehearsal for the 1917 Revolution. This history and political science study analyzes how opera, ballet, and serious drama interacted with the state, while also exploring the rise of popular culture through cabaret, satirical revues, and early film.

The text refutes the idea that the Russian government acted as a strict cultural censor before the Soviet era. By focusing on theater history and criticism, Stage Fright presents late imperial Russia as a modernizing polity with a vigorous civil society. This work of social science demonstrates that many artists remained apathetic or hostile to political struggles, offering a new perspective on the 20th century and the path toward revolution.