Dramatic Censorship during the First World War

The article examines the activities of the censorship of dramatic works in the Russian Empire during the First World War. The article examines the features of the work of dramatic censorship in 1914 - February 1917, its structure, and personnel. During the war, both the number and the subject matter of plays submitted to censorship changed. Based on the instructions of the leadership and their own ideas and views, the censors did not allow many subjects to be staged: the horrors of war, criticism of the allies, ridicule of monarchs (including monarchs of states hostile to Russia), the presentation of Russian officers and soldiers in an inappropriate form, anti-war sentiments in the rear. Over time, many domestic political subjects were also added, for example, the unspoken ban on portraying Rasputin on stage. Although formally dramatic censorship existed only in the capital, in fact, local authorities could also act as censors, primarily governors and police chiefs, who could ban any productions by their orders. The old pre-war problems remained: contradictory decisions of censors, their high workload, personnel shortage. The Main Administration for Press Affairs tried to solve these problems, but it was not possible to qualitatively change the situation before the February Revolution.