{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/theatres-act-1968/section-1",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/theatres-act-1968/section-1.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1968/54",
  "legislation_title": "Theatres Act 1968",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/theatres-act-1968",
  "path": "section/1",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "1",
  "heading": "Abolition of censorship of the theatre.",
  "text": "(1) The Theatres Act 1843 is hereby repealed; and none of the powers which were exercisable thereunder by the Lord Chamberlain of Her Majesty’s Household shall be exercisable by or on behalf of Her Majesty by virtue of Her royal prerogative.\n(2) In granting, renewing or transferring any licence under this Act for the use of any premises for the public performance of plays or in varying any of the terms, conditions or restrictions on or subject to which any such licence is held, the licensing authority shall not have power to impose any term, condition or restriction as to the nature of the plays which may be performed under the licence or as to the manner of performing plays thereunder:\nProvided that nothing in this subsection shall prevent a licensing authority from imposing any term, condition or restriction which they consider necessary in the interests of physical safety or health or any condition regulating or prohibiting the giving of an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism within the meaning of the Hypnotism Act 1952.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 1(2) repealed (S.) (27.1.2021) by Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 (asp 10), ss. 74(2), 88(2); S.S.I. 2019/99, art. 2(2) (with art. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 1(2) ceases to have effect (E.W.) (24.11.2005) by virtue of Licensing Act 2003 (c. 17), s. 201(2), Sch. 6 para. 44(a) (with ss. 2(3), 15(2), 195); S.I. 2005/3056, art. 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M1",
      "text": "1843 c. 68."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M2",
      "text": "1952 c. 46."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/54/section/1",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:53:06.699904+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}