The Theatre of War: British and Irish Plays About The First World War

The Theatre of War surveys more than two hundred plays about the First World War written, published and/or performed in Britain and Ireland between 1909 and 1998. Collectively, these plays constitute an important aspect of British and Irish literary, social and cultural history. They are discussed from five major perspectives: subject matter, technique, attitude, reception and evaluation. The resulting complex image is a significant contribution to the understanding of the First World War as a watershed in international history. 023052558X......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 Part I: Theatres of War: Aspects of Subject Matter......Page 20 1 Foreshadowing the War......Page 22 2 Front-Line Plays......Page 26 3 The Home Front......Page 38 4 The Return of the Soldier......Page 51 5 Departure – Combat – Return: A Soldier's Career......Page 60 6 A Different Kind of War: The Great War in Ireland......Page 64 7 The Aftermath of the War......Page 77 8 Foreshadowing Another War......Page 86 9 Fantastic Locations......Page 94 10 Intellectual Debates......Page 98 Part II: Staging the War: Aspects of Presentation......Page 110 1 Realism versus Reality......Page 112 2 Realistic Ghost Plays......Page 121 3 Symbolic Generalisation......Page 124 4 The Allegorical War......Page 130 5 Parables......Page 136 6 Expressionism......Page 138 7 The Documentary Mode......Page 146 8 The War in Verse......Page 150 9 The Comic Side of the War......Page 156 10 An Unconventional Solution......Page 161 Part III: Engaging Intellect or Emotions: Aspects of Attitude......Page 164 1 'Nothing but the Truth'......Page 166 2 The Patriotic Appeal......Page 170 3 Hun-Bashing......Page 174 4 Pacifism......Page 183 5 Disillusionment......Page 191 6 Another War to End All Wars?......Page 195 7 Hope against Hope......Page 198 Part IV: Popular Failures and Successes: Aspects of Reception......Page 202 1 The West End......Page 204 2 Professional Theatre in the Provinces......Page 218 3 The Amateur-Theatre Movement......Page 223 Part V: 'Good' versus 'Bad' War Plays: Aspects of Evaluation......Page 228 1 Literary Standards......Page 230 2 'Literary' versus 'Historical' Evaluation......Page 238 Part VI: British and Irish Plays about the First World War: Two Checklists......Page 240 1 Alphabetical Listing by Author......Page 242 2 Chronological Listing......Page 266 Notes......Page 276 B......Page 288 D......Page 289 H......Page 290 M......Page 291 P......Page 292 S......Page 293 W......Page 294 Z......Page 295 Heinz Kosok Surveys Over 200 Plays About The First World War Created In Britain And Ireland Between 1909 And 1998. These Plays Are Discussed From Five Major Perspectives: Subject Matter, Technique, Attitude, Reception And Evaluation. I. Theatres Of War : Aspects Of Subject Matter -- 1. Foreshadowing The War -- 2. Front-line Plays -- 3. The Home Front -- 4. The Return Of The Soldier -- 5. Departure -- Combat -- Return : A Soldier's Career -- 6. A Different Kind Of War : The Great War In Ireland -- 7. The Aftermath Of The War -- 8. Foreshadowing Another War -- 9. Fantastic Locations -- 10. Intellectual Debates -- Ii. Staging The War : Aspects Of Presentation -- 1. Realism Versus Reality -- 2. Realistic Ghost Plays -- 3. Symbolic Generalisation -- 4. The Allegorical War -- 5. Parables -- 6. Expressionism -- 7. The Documentary Mode -- 8. The War In Verse -- 9. The Comic Side Of The War 147 10 An Unconventional Solution -- Iii. Engaging Intellect Or Emotions : Aspects Of Attitude -- 1. 'nothing But The Truth' -- 2. The Patriotic Appeal -- 3. Hun-bashing -- 4. Pacifism -- 5. Disillusionment -- 6. Another War To End All Wars? -- 7. Hope Against Hope -- Iv. Popular Failures And Successes : Aspects Of Reception -- 1. The West End -- 2. Professional Theatre In The Provinces -- 3. The Amateur-theatre Movement -- V. 'good' Versus 'bad' War Plays : Aspects Of Evaluation -- 1. Literary Standards -- 2. 'literary' Versus 'historical' Evaluation -- Vi. British And Irish Plays About The First World War : Two Checklists -- 1. Alphabetical Listing By Author -- 2. Chronological Listing. Heinz Kosok. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 267-278) And Index. While the poetry, fiction and memoirs of the First World War have found a comprehensive critical reception, the drama of the period has been largely neglected. This new study aims to redress the balance, surveying over 200 British and Irish plays which deal, in highly diverse ways, with the experience of the War. These plays range from West End successes to the productions of small amateur companies, and provide a unique insight into the watershed period between the certainties of the Victorian age and the disillusionment of the post-War era The Theatre of War surveys more than two hundred plays about the First World War written, published and/or performed in Britain and Ireland between 1909 and 1998. Perspectives discussed include: subject matter, technique and evaluation. The result is an understanding of the First World War as a watershed in international history.