Staging the Past in the Age of Thatcher : 'The History We Haven't Had'

This book investigates how the British theatrical community offered an alternative and oppositional historical narrative to the heritage culture promulgated by the Thatcher and Major Governments in the 1980s and early 1990s. It details the challenges the theatre faced, especially reductions in government funding, and examines seminal playwrights of the period – including but not limited to Caryl Churchill, Howard Brenton, Sarah Daniels, David Edgar, and Brian Friel – who dramatized a more inclusive vision of history that gave voice to traditionally marginalized communities. It employs James Baldwin’s concept of witnessing as the means by which history could be deployed to articulate an alternative and emergent political narrative: “the history we haven’t had”. This book will appeal to students and scholars of theatre and cultural studies as well as theatre practitioners and enthusiasts. Acknowledgements 7 Contents 8 Chapter 1 Introduction: A Snowy Night in December 9 References 20 Chapter 2 Competing Histories 22 The Government 24 Thatcherism and the Arts 32 The Theatre 36 Challenges 41 Intellectually Coherent Argument 49 References 56 Chapter 3 Plays of the First Thatcher Ministry: “To the World’s End. To the Churchyard Grave” 60 Cloud Nine (March 25, 1979) 62 Nicholas Nickleby (June 6, 1980) 78 Translations (September 23, 1980) 90 Romans in Britain (October 16, 1980) 94 Restoration (July 21, 1981) 103 Top Girls Caryl Churchill (August 28, 1982) 113 Victory (February 17, 1983) 117 References 123 Chapter 4 Plays of the Second Thatcher Ministry: “Demolition Needs a Drawing, Too” 127 Maydays (October 13, 1983) 130 Bloody Poetry (October 1, 1984) 138 The Power of the Dog (November 14, 1984) 142 The Castle (October 14, 1985) 144 Mary Traverse (October 17, 1985) 149 Entertaining Strangers (November 18, 1985) 155 Women Beware Women (February 1, 1986) 160 Byrthrite (November 21, 1986) 166 Serious Money (March 21, 1987) 170 References 174 Chapter 5 Plays of the Third Thatcher Ministry: “I Shall Destroy Your Power to Resist” 177 Mary Queen of Scots (August 10, 1987) 179 Our Country’s Good (September 10, 1988) 183 Making History (September 20, 1988) 191 The Gut Girls (November 2, 1988) 193 Border Warfare (February 23, 1989) 195 Mary and Lizzie (September 27, 1989) 199 Seven Lears (October 13, 1989) 202 References 205 Chapter 6 Plays of the Two Major Ministries: “Let Them See We Are Happy!” 208 The Madness of George III (November 28, 1991) 211 Arcadia (April 13, 1993) 214 Pictures of Tomorrow (April 14, 1994) 220 Falling Over England (May 5, 1994) 222 The Libertine (October 20, 1994) 226 Indian Ink (February 27, 1995) 227 References 233 Chapter 7 Conclusion: May 2, 1997 and Beyond 235 References 243 Index 244 Front Matter ....Pages i-ix Introduction: A Snowy Night in December (Anthony P. Pennino)....Pages 1-13 Competing Histories (Anthony P. Pennino)....Pages 15-52 Plays of the First Thatcher Ministry: “To the World’s End. To the Churchyard Grave” (Anthony P. Pennino)....Pages 53-119 Plays of the Second Thatcher Ministry: “Demolition Needs a Drawing, Too” (Anthony P. Pennino)....Pages 121-170 Plays of the Third Thatcher Ministry: “I Shall Destroy Your Power to Resist” (Anthony P. Pennino)....Pages 171-201 Plays of the Two Major Ministries: “Let Them See We Are Happy!” (Anthony P. Pennino)....Pages 203-229 Conclusion: May 2, 1997 and Beyond (Anthony P. Pennino)....Pages 231-239 Back Matter ....Pages 241-251