Modern British Playwriting: The 1970's: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations (Decades of Modern British Playwriting)

Essential for students of Theatre Studies, this series of six decadal volumes provides a critical survey and reassessment of the theatre produced in each decade from the 1950s to the present. Each volume equips readers with an understanding of the context from which work emerged, a detailed overview of the range of theatrical activity and a close study of the work of four of the major playwrights by a team of leading scholars. Chris Megson's comprehensive 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 (by Paola Botham), David Hare (Chris Megson), Howard Brenton (Richard Boon) and David Edgar (Janelle Reinelt). It analyses their work then, its legacy today and provides a fresh assessment of their contribution to British theatre. Interviews with the playwrights, with directors and with actors provides an invaluable collection of documents offering new perspectives on the work. Revisiting the decade from the perspective of the twenty-first century, Chris Megson provides an authoritative and stimulating reassessment of British playwriting in the 1970s. Cover Contents General Preface Acknowledgements Introduction: Living in the 1970s Domestic life Society Culture Media Science, technology and industry Political events 1 Theatre in the 1970s The political context Alternative theatre Playwriting and politics Funding Flagship theatres National and international contexts Conclusion 2 Introducing the Playwrights Caryl Churchill David Hare Howard Brenton David Edgar 3 Playwrights and Plays Caryl Churchill Introduction Owners Vinegar Tom Cloud Nine Conclusion David Hare Introduction Slag Fanshen ‘The Play is in the Air’ Plenty Conclusion Howard Brenton Introduction Brenton’s bag ‘The View’ The bear pit David Edgar Introduction Destiny The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs Mary Barnes Conclusion 4 Documents James Aubrey Howard Barker Ian Blower Howard Brenton David Edgar David Gant Tim Hardy Barry Kyle Peter McEnery Ian McNeice Ann Mitchell Di Seymour Mary Sheen Kit Surrey A final word . . . Notes Select Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y 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 A critical study of the theatre produced in the 1970s with an in-depth analysis of the work of four key playwrights from the decade. Chris Megson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 279-285) And Index.