Modern British Playwriting: The 1960s: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations

Description

Essential for students of theatre studies, Methuen Drama’s Decades of Modern British Playwriting series provides a comprehensive survey and study of the theatre produced in each decade from the 1950s to 2009 in six volumes. Each volume features a critical analysis and reevaluation of the work of four key playwrights from that decade authored by a team of experts, together with an extensive commentary on the period. The 1960s was a decade of seismic changes in British theatre as in society at large. This important new study in Methuen Drama’s Decades of Modern British Playwriting series explores how theatre-makers responded to the changes in society. Together with a thorough survey of the theatrical activity of the decade it offers detailed reassessments of the work of four of the leading playwrights. The 1960s volume provides in-depth studies of the work of four of the major playwrights who came to prominence: Edward Bond (by Steve Nicholson), John Arden (Bill McDonnell), Harold Pinter (Jamie Andrews) and Alan Ayckbourn (Frances Babbage). It examines their work then, its legacy today, and how critical consensus has changed over time. Cover Copyright Contents General Preface Acknowledgements Introduction to the 1960s Domestic life Society Science, technology and industry Culture Media Political events 1 Theatre in the 1960s 1960–64 Performance and politics Cruelty and violence Shakespeare Staging reality The age of satire Theatres of war Beyond words Aunt Edna versus the RSC 1965–69 Documentary theatre Staging Vietnam Race The American avant-garde The golden age Waiting for paradise Conclusion 2 Introducing the Playwrights Introduction to John Arden Introduction to Edward Bond Introduction to Harold Pinter Introduction to Alan Ayckbourn 3 Playwrights and Plays John Arden Serjeant Musgrave’s Dance The Workhouse Donkey Armstrong’s Last Good Night Britain’s Brecht Conclusion Edward Bond Saved Early Morning Lear Conclusion Harold Pinter The Caretaker Early audience response; or, ‘A bloody pain in the neck’ The Homecoming Pinter beyond Britain; or looking for Beckett Censorship Landscape and Silence Afterword Alan Ayckbourn 1960–64: taking (first) steps 1965–70: comedies of sex and class Relatively Speaking How the Other Half Loves and Family Circles Afterword 4 Documents John Arden Edward Bond Harold Pinter Afterword John Arden Edward Bond Harold Pinter Alan Ayckbourn Notes Select Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Z Notes on contributors