Modern British Playwriting: The 1960's: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations (Decades of Modern British Playwriting)

Essential for students of theatre studies, Methuen Drama's Decades of Modern British Playwriting series provides a comprehensive survey and study of the theatre produced in each decade from the 1950s to 2009 in six volumes. Each volume features a critical analysis and reevaluation of the work of four key playwrights from that decade authored by a team of experts, together with an extensive commentary on the period . The 1960s was a decade of seismic changes in British theatre as in society at large. This important new study in Methuen Drama's Decades of Modern British Playwriting series explores how theatre-makers responded to the changes in society. Together with a thorough survey of the theatrical activity of the decade it offers detailed reassessments of the work of four of the leading playwrights. The 1960s volume provides in-depth studies of the work of four of the major playwrights who came to prominence: Edward Bond (by Steve Nicholson), John Arden (Bill McDonnell), Harold Pinter (Jamie Andrews) and Alan Ayckbourn (Frances Babbage). It examines their work then, its legacy today, and how critical consensus has changed over time.
Essential for students of theatre studies, this series of 6 decadal volumes provides a critical survey and study of the theatre produced in each decade from the 1950s to the present. Each volume features a critical analysis of the work of four key playwrights from that decade together with an extensive commentary on the period.
The 60s volume provides a detailed study of the work of four of the major playwrights who came to prominence: Edward Bond, John Arden, Harold Pinter and Alan Ayckbourn.
As with other volumes in the series, it offers an analysis of some of its most important and representative plays and playwrights; provides the appropriate contextual information, and revisits each decade from the perspective of the twenty first century. Contents: 1. A chronological survey of the decade: the social, cultural and technological changes and the playwrights of the time. 2. The decade as it looked then: theatrical activity, political circumstances and historical context. 3. The four writers from their beginnings up to the start of the decade. 4. An analysis of their plays within the decade combined with a study of primary material such as early play drafts, interviews and critical receptions of the time. 5. A new interview with the writers, reflecting on the period and the plays under discussion. 6. An Afterword: what the writers went on to do next. 7. Select bibliographies Edited by Dr Steve Nicholson and with essays from three further leading scholars, this is an authoritative and stimulating reassessment of British playwriting in the 1960s. Cover Copyright Contents General Preface Acknowledgements Introduction to the 1960s Domestic life Society Science, technology and industry Culture Media Political events 1 Theatre in the 1960s 1960–64 Performance and politics Cruelty and violence Shakespeare Staging reality The age of satire Theatres of war Beyond words Aunt Edna versus the RSC 1965–69 Documentary theatre Staging Vietnam Race The American avant-garde The golden age Waiting for paradise Conclusion 2 Introducing the Playwrights Introduction to John Arden Introduction to Edward Bond Introduction to Harold Pinter Introduction to Alan Ayckbourn 3 Playwrights and Plays John Arden Serjeant Musgrave’s Dance The Workhouse Donkey Armstrong’s Last Good Night Britain’s Brecht Conclusion Edward Bond Saved Early Morning Lear Conclusion Harold Pinter The Caretaker Early audience response; or, ‘A bloody pain in the neck’ The Homecoming Pinter beyond Britain; or looking for Beckett Censorship Landscape and Silence Afterword Alan Ayckbourn 1960–64: taking (first) steps 1965–70: comedies of sex and class Relatively Speaking How the Other Half Loves and Family Circles Afterword 4 Documents John Arden Edward Bond Harold Pinter Afterword John Arden Edward Bond Harold Pinter Alan Ayckbourn Notes Select Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Z Notes on contributors Chris Megson's survey of the theatre of the 1970s examines the work of four playwrights who came to promience in the decade and whose work remains undiminished today: Caryl Churchill, David Hare, Howard Brenton, and David Edgar. It analyses their work and their legacy today and provides an assessment of their contribution to British theatre This series looks at the journey through life in the the six world religions. Each title focuses on the significant events of birth, coming of age, marriage and death, using contemporary case studies from around the world. Questions and activities are a starting point for discussion about key concepts in religion and citizenship. This title provides a comprehensive survey and study of the theatre produced in the 1960s. It features a critical analysis and reevaluation of the work of four key playwrights authored by a team of experts, together with an extensive commentary on the period. A critical study of the theatre of the 1960s with an in-depth analysis of the work of four key playwrights.