Twentieth-Century British Theatre
Industry, Art and Empire

This book explores where, why and how theatre took place across the British Isles during the twentieth century.

Claire Cochrane (Author)

9780521464888, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 October 2011

364 pages
23.5 x 16 x 2.3 cm, 0.72 kg

'Cochrane's book will occupy a crucial space in the study of modern theatre history in the UK. By focusing on the twentieth century through both macro- and micro-frames, she successfully provides detailed, richly textured portraits of British theatre as both an industrial and artistic concern, while exploding the myth that everything of consequence in British theatre happened exclusively in London.' Richard St Peter, Theatre Journal

In this book, Claire Cochrane maps the experience of theatre across the British Isles during the twentieth century through the social and economic factors which shaped it. Three topographies for 1900, 1950 and 2000 survey the complex plurality of theatre within the nation-state which at the beginning of the century was at the hub of world-wide imperial interests and after one hundred years had seen unprecedented demographic, economic and industrial change. Cochrane analyses the dominance of London theatre, but redresses the balance in favour of the hitherto marginalised majority experience in the English regions and the other component nations of the British political construct. Developments arising from demographic change are outlined, especially those relating to the rapid expansion of migrant communities representing multiple ethnicities. Presenting fresh historiographic perspectives on twentieth-century British theatre, the book breaks down the traditionally accepted binary oppositions between different sectors, showing a broader spectrum of theatre practice.

Introduction
1. The topography of theatre in 1900
2. Structures of management
3. The profession of acting
4. The amateur phenomenon
5. The topography of theatre in 1950
6. The business of theatre
7. The changing demographic of performance
8. The topography of theatre in 2000
Conclusion
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], British & Irish history [HBJD1], Theatre studies [AN]