Explore the history of modern theatre. Including the 'new drama' of the early 20th century, the patriotic wartime entertainment of the 1940s, the foundation of institutions such as the Arts Council and the National Theatre, and the controversial 'in yer face' movement that sprung up in the 1990s.
Introduction to Early 20th-Century Theatre
The emergence of a new drama in the early 20th century had little initial impact on mainstream theatre, but new and dissenting voices slowly began to transfer onto the West…
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New Drama in the Early 20th Century
At the turn of the 20th century several strands of new drama were developing in the UK. This was not a cohesive movement, but the initiative of a few individuals including …
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Club Theatres in the Early 20th Century
1899 the Stage Society was founded with the aim of supporting a theatre of ideas. Frustrated with the conservative nature of more commercial theatre it presented private Su…
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Political Theatre in the Early 20th Century
At the turn of the century an interest in theatre that explored the moral and social issues of contemporary society had developed. During Granville Barker's management of t…
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Modern Theatre: The Repertory Movement
The repertory theatre movement was forged out of the passion and conviction of two individuals, Barry Jackson and Annie Horniman who believed that a wide variety of theatri…
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West End Theatre between the Wars
During the 1920s and 1930s West End theatres were, for the most part, impoverished by the Depression and remained conservative both in the content of their work and the sta…
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Wartime Entertainment
World War II (1939 - 45) saw a surge of interest in the arts. Many civilian and military audiences experienced drama, opera and ballet for the first time. Unlike audiences …
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Post-War West End Theatre
After the end of World War II in 1945, the West End was dominated by the commercial sector. Farces and who-dunnits became very popular.
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Introduction to Late 20th-Century Theatre
In 1946 the Arts Council was established with an annual grant to distribute among the arts. This ensured the survival of companies like the Sadler's Wells Ballet and Opera …
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Modern Theatre: 20th-Century Shakespeare
The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon opened in 1879 and produced an annual summer Shakespeare season. When the theatre burnt down in 1926 it was replaced…
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Modern Theatre: Alternative Theatre
The end of theatre censorship in 1968 saw a surge in the alternative theatre movement in this country. No longer restricted by the Lord Chamberlain's censorious eye, compan…
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Modern Theatre: The Explosion of New Writing
In 1956 the English Stage Company reopened at the Royal Court Theatre under the artistic direction of George Devine. He believed that the writer was the fundamental creativ…
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Modern Theatre: 'In Yer Face' Theatre
'In Yer Face' theatre describes the wave of new writing in the 1990s that was aggressive, raw, confrontational and angry. Designed to assault the audience's sensibilities i…
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Modern Theatre: Physical and Visual Theatre
In the 1980s companies began to experiment with a more physical type of theatre. They wanted to get away from the restraints of realistic and naturalistic drama and create …
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The Old Vic
Lilian Baylis' Old Vic provided the starting point for the formation of Britain's national ballet, opera and theatre companies and for the careers of stars such as, Ralph R…
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The National Theatre
The National Theatre opened on the South Bank in London in 1976 to promote and support the best of British talent and expertise.
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Joan Littlewood and Theatre Workshop
Theatre Workshop was created by a group of actors committed to a left wing ideology. Directed by Joan Littlewood they devised and commissioned plays by and about the workin…
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A gift in your will
You may not have thought of including a gift to a museum in your will, but the V&A is a charity and legacies form an important source of funding for our work. It is not just the great collectors and the wealthy who leave legacies to the V&A. Legacies of all sizes, large and small, make a real difference to what we can do and your support can help ensure that future generations enjoy the V&A as much as you have.
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Played in Britain: Modern Theatre in 100 Plays (Hardback)
Published in collaboration with the Victoria & Albert Musuem, Played in Britain: Modern Theatre in 100 Plays explores the best and most influentia…
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