Thumbnail of Joan Littlewood and Theatre Workshop

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 working class in the UK. The group experimented with physical approaches to characterisation, drawing on the work of Rudolf Laban, and drew many of their actors from non-theatrical backgrounds.

Thumbnail of Modern theatre: Physical and visual theatre

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 an energetic visual theatre that combined strong design with choreography and physical imagery. Influenced by the work of Philippe Gaulier and Jacques Lecoq, companies such as Theatre de Complicite applied their style to the reworking of classic texts and created new work in collaboration with writers.

Thumbnail of Theatre design reading list

Theatre design reading list

Recommended reading list about theatre design

Thumbnail of Tudor and Stuart theatre reading list

Tudor and Stuart theatre reading list

Recommended reading about Tudor and Stuart Theatre

Thumbnail of Design and design history study guide

Design and design history study guide

Recommended resources for finding information on design and design history, and how to find design drawings in the V&A collections.

British Design 1948–2012: Innovation in the Modern Age

31 March–12 August 2012

Showcasing over 300 British design objects, this exhibition celebrates the best of British post-war art and design from the 1948 ‘Austerity Games' to the summer of 2012.

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Japanese Fashion: A Cultural History

Japanese Fashion: A Cultural History

The first full history of the last two hundred years of Japanese clothing.

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Event - Theatre & Performance Galleries Tour

Fri 19 February 2010–Mon 31 December 2012

TOUR: Take a guided tour of the V&A's exciting theatre and performance collections, including rock & pop posters, theatre and ballet costumes, puppets, stage sets and more! See new costumes from the Lion King now on display.

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