The Theatre of War : The First World War in British and Irish Drama

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. 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. Front Matter....Pages i-vii Introduction....Pages 1-10 Front Matter....Pages 11-11 Foreshadowing the War....Pages 13-16 Front-Line Plays....Pages 17-28 The Home Front....Pages 29-41 The Return of the Soldier....Pages 42-50 Departure — Combat — Return: A Soldier’s Career....Pages 51-54 A Different Kind of War: The Great War in Ireland....Pages 55-67 The Aftermath of the War....Pages 68-76 Foreshadowing Another War....Pages 77-84 Fantastic Locations....Pages 85-88 Intellectual Debates....Pages 89-99 Front Matter....Pages 101-101 Realism versus Reality....Pages 103-111 Realistic Ghost Plays....Pages 112-114 Symbolic Generalisation....Pages 115-120 The Allegorical War....Pages 121-126 Parables....Pages 127-128 Expressionism....Pages 129-136 The Documentary Mode....Pages 137-140 The War in Verse....Pages 141-146 The Comic Side of the War....Pages 147-151 Front Matter....Pages 101-101 An Unconventional Solution....Pages 152-153 Front Matter....Pages 155-155 Nothing but the Truth....Pages 157-160 The Patriotic Appeal....Pages 161-164 Hun-Bashing....Pages 165-173 Pacifism....Pages 174-181 Disillusionment....Pages 182-185 Another War to End All Wars?....Pages 186-188 Hope against Hope....Pages 189-191 Front Matter....Pages 193-193 The West End....Pages 195-208 Professional Theatre in the Provinces....Pages 209-213 The Amateur-Theatre Movement....Pages 214-218 Front Matter....Pages 219-219 Literary Standards....Pages 221-228 ‘Literary’ versus ‘Historical’ Evaluation....Pages 229-230 Front Matter....Pages 231-231 Alphabetical Listing by Author....Pages 233-256 Chronological Listing....Pages 257-265 Back Matter....Pages 267-286 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.