The Cambridge History of British Theatre

This volume explores the rich and complex histories of English, Scottish and Welsh theatres in the 'long' twentieth century since 1895.

Baz Kershaw (Edited by)

9781107497092, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 12 March 2015

598 pages, 35 b/w illus.
22.8 x 15.2 x 2.8 cm, 0.95 kg

'… exceptional … destined to prove one of the most erudite, and yet accessible, resources for theatre scholars and students as well as serious theatre practitioners … must be hailed as perhaps the most carefully compiled and comprehensively covered history ever attempted … I know of no library that has any other theatre history (focusing exclusively on British Theatre) on its shelves to challenge this great new work's pole position in the theatre reference stakes … All in all a great work.' Amateur Stage

This volume explores the rich and complex histories of English, Scottish and Welsh theatres in the 'long' twentieth century since 1895. Twenty-three original essays by leading historians and critics investigate the major aspects of theatrical performance, ranging from the great actor-managers to humble seaside entertainers, from between-wars West End women playwrights to the roots of professional theatre in Wales and Scotland, and from the challenges of alternative theatres to the economics of theatre under Thatcher. Detailed surveys of key theatre practices and traditions across this whole period are combined with case studies of influential productions, critical years placed in historical perspective and evaluations of theatre at the turn of the millennium. The collection presents an exciting evolution in the scholarly study of modern British theatre history, skilfully demonstrating how performance variously became a critical litmus test of the great aesthetic, cultural, social, political and economic upheavals in the age of extremes.

Acknowledgements
Chronology
List of illustrations
Part I. 1895–1946: 1. British theatre, 1895–1946: art, entertainment, audiences – an introduction Dennis Kennedy
2. The London stage, 1895–1918 Thomas Postlewait
3. Provincial stages, 1900–34: touring and early repertory theatre Viv Gardner
4. Popular theatre, 1896–1940 Sophie Nield
5. Case study: Cicely Hamilton's Diana of Dobson's, 1908 Christine Dymkowski
6. A critical year in perspective: 1926 Steve Nicholson
7. The London stage, 1918–45 Maggie B. Gale
8. Social commitment and aesthetic innovation, 1895–1946 Mick Wallis
PART II. Scottish and Welsh Theatres, 1895–2002: 9. Towards national identities: theatre in Scotland Jan McDonald
10. Case study: Ena Lamont Stewart's Men Should Weep, 1947 Nadine Holdsworth
11. Towards national identities: Welsh theatres Ioan Williams
12. Case study: refashioning a myth, performances of the tale of Blodeuwedd Hazel Walford Davies
Part III. 1940–2002: 13. British theatre, 1940–2002: an introduction Baz Kershaw
14. The establishment of mainstream theatre, 1946–79 John Bull
15. Alternative theatres, 1946–2000 Baz Kershaw
16. Developments in the profession of theatre, 1946–2000 Colin Chambers
17. Case study: Theatre Workshop's Oh What a Lovely War, 1963 Derek Paget
18. 1979 and after: a view Vera Gottlieb
19. British theatre and commerce, 1979–2000 Stephen Lacey
20. New theatre for new times: decentralisation, innovation and pluralism, 1975–2000 Simon Jones
21. Theatre in Scotland in the 1990s and beyond Adrienne Scullion
22. Theatre in Wales in the 1990s and beyond Roger Owen
23. English theatre in the 1990s and beyond Liz Tomlin
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Popular culture [JFCA], Literary studies: plays & playwrights [DSG], Theatre direction & production [ANF], Theatre studies [AN]