A NEW exhibition at the Bodleian Library will explore how theatres became "dramatic newsreels for the masses" in Regency-era Britain.

Curator Michael Burden, a fellow at New College, Oxford, said the period from 1780 to 1840 saw a surge in enthusiasm for dramas on historical topics.

The 'Staging History' display will open on October 14 and run until January.

It will be free for the public to view at the Weston Library, in Broad Street.

Mr Burden said: "Even in an age of expanding print culture, theatres played an important role as dramatic newsreels for the masses, disseminating information and representing events of national interest.

"We present a number of evocative theatrical works that cast light on how history was told and retold on the stage through words, music and spectacle.

"We also explore how Regency theatre shaped popular interpretation of historical events."

Richard Ovenden, Bodley's Librarian, said: "This fascinating exhibition explores how theatre has navigated the fine line between fact and fiction to bring history to the public.

"Although it focuses on the turn of the nineteenth century, the themes remain highly relevant today with historical fiction alive and well, on page, stage and screen.

"By considering how our ancestors performed their pasts, we might learn something about the present moment and how we understand the stories of history that are told today."

For information about the upcoming exhibition, visit bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whatson