Dramatic Performances Act, 1876

This authoritative edition collects the complete Dramatic Performances Act, 1876 and pairs the statutory text with accessible, practice-oriented commentary. The Act — enacted to empower authorities to prohibit public plays, pantomimes and dramatic entertainments deemed scandalous, defamatory, seditious or obscene — is explained clause-by-clause, with historical notes on its colonial origins and modern relevance. The book highlights key enforcement mechanisms (orders of prohibition, service and notification requirements), magistrates’ powers to issue warrants and authorize search and seizure, and the penalties for non-compliance. Each section features plain-language explanations, citation pointers to leading cases and examples of how the law has been invoked or amended locally. Practitioners will find model prohibition orders, sample affidavits and an enforcement checklist; students and researchers will benefit from a concise timeline of landmark prosecutions and critical commentary on free-speech implications. Whether used as a classroom supplement, a reference for courtroom practice, or a historical study of censorship and public performance regulation, this compact volume bridges statute, practice and context to provide a single, reliable resource.