The theatre of Howard Barker

In this second, fully revised edition of his acclaimed study of Barker's work, Charles Lamb sets out to make emotional sense of the characters and their interactions. This is a detailed exploration of the 'scene of seduction' - the challenge, the secret, the abject and the catastrophic, processes which dominate Barker's work. For Lamb, the power of Barker's plays is to be found in the exposure to the irrational and its promotion of a state of unknowing. This revised edition includes: * a new interview with Barker; * a revised introduction, * an updated bibliography * a full production chronology. For students of Barker and for actors and directors working with this unique material, Lamb's book is a vital and illuminating text.

Outstanding - David Ian Rabey, University of Wales Aberystywth

a unique resource in studying Barker, who should be recognised as a major contemporary playwright - Rhonda Blair, Southern Methodist University

From a review of the first edition:

the release of Lamb's Howard Barker's Theatre of Seduction is a most welcome event. Lamb's production work on Barker's plays.... provides him with a singular perspective from which to comment on the plays - Theatre Journal

Through his powerful stage poetry Howard Barker creates a world peopled by characters who live at the extreme edges of experience - and who challenge the very limits of an actor's imagination. In this second, fully revised edition of his acclaimed study of Barker's work, Charles Lamb sets out to make emotional sense of the characters and their interactions.

This leads to a detailed exploration of the scene of seduction - the challenge, the secret, the abject and the catastrophic, processes which dominate Barker's work. For Lamb, the power of Barker's plays is to be found in the exposure to the irrational and its promotion of a state of unknowing. For students of Barker and for actors and directors working with this unique material, Lamb's book is a vital and illuminating text.

"Through his powerful stage poetry, Howard Barker creates a world peopled by characters who live at the extreme edges of experience - characters who challenge the very limits of actors' imaginations. In this acclaimed study of Barker's work, Charles Lamb sets out to make emotional sense of these characters and of their interactions leading to a detailed exploration of the 'scene of seduction' - the challenge, the secret, the abject and the catastrophic processes which dominate Barker's work." "For students of Barker and for actors and directors working with this unique material, Lamb's book is a vital and illuminating text."--Jacket