These performances took place at night, and were brilliantly lighted with wax candles.

With the fall of the Stuart dynasty the court theatricals ceased almost altogether.

Indeed, in Charles's time there had been much decline in the dignity and exclusiveness of these entertainments; admission seems to have been obtainable upon payment at the doors, as though at a public theatre.
Evelyn writes in 1675: "I saw the Italian Scaramuccio act before the king at Whitehall, people giving money to come in, which was very scandalous, and never so before at court diversions.

Having seen him act in Italy many years past, I was not averse from seeing the most excellent of that kind of folly." It is to be observed that in Pepys's time, and long afterwards, the prices of admission to the theatres were: Boxes, four shillings; pit, two shillings and sixpence; first gallery, one shilling and sixpence; and upper gallery, one shilling.

It became customary to raise the prices whenever great expenses had been incurred by the manager in the production of a new play or of a pantomime.