The Lane and ENSA Headquarters (1939)

This chapter examines the history and cultural impact of the Entertainment National Service Association (ENSA) and the resulting impact on the Lane’s reputation as a production house. It considers Drury Lane theatre during wartime through an exploration of reception history and critical response to the ENSA, speculating as to the importance of theatre as a symbol of nation during wartime. Charged by the British government with the task of providing entertainment to the many members of the Armed Forces, ENSA promoted the perception of British cultural superiority across the Empire. These performances offered collective reassurance by presenting traditional genres and styles that marked a departure from the drive for innovation so often seen at the Lane, and in the larger West End theatre world, prior to 1939.