Final answer:
London theatres were preserved through strategic locations outside legal boundaries, cultural significance, and constant public demand. Despite facing legal, moral, and practical challenges throughout history, from the Elizabethan era to the COVID-19 pandemic, the theatre scene adapted and persevered.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Preservation of London Theatres
Despite pressures to shut down theatres in London for various reasons across history, multiple factors have enabled them to persist. During the Elizabethan era, theatres, such as those where Shakespeare's plays were performed, were strategically located outside city limits due to legal restrictions in town. The historical closeness of these theatres to pubs and their role in the social life helped sustain them despite criticisms of being a frivolous drain on working people's finances and morality.
In the 17th century, the Long Parliament ordered the closure of theatres, influenced by Puritanism under Oliver Cromwell's rule. However, with the Restoration of Charles II, there was a revival of the theatre scene, and playwrighting continued to thrive. Throughout the centuries, even as theatres faced destruction from fires or changed ownership leading to renovation stalemates, the cultural significance and public demand for theatre ensured their endurance.
More recently, after disruptions from events like the September 11 attacks or the COVID-19 pandemic, theatres experienced temporary closures, but the enduring nature of this art form has seen it adapt and survive, with new practices such as live streaming and Zoom plays.