Modern British socialist theatre : social revolution and the drama of Howard Brenton and John McGrath
Date
1984
Authors
Thompson, Ian Charles
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Abstract
The thesis discusses the political function and production problems of socialist theatre in a capitalist society. Brita in has seen a remarkable growth of political theatre in the last few decades. This theatre is discussed within its context of Britain's changing economic and political climate since the 1950's. The thesis examines the relationship between theatre and society, the production of literature, and the cultural identification afforded to a rt by institutions and classes. It is argued that socialist playwrights are faced with two choices: (1) either they work within the bourgeois theatrical institutions as oppositional voices against the hegemony of ruling class ideology, or (2) they work outside these institutions, performing to working-class audiences and attempting to create a socialist counter-culture based on the working class. The careers of Howard Brenton and John McGrath represent two conflicting responses in both theory and practice by socialist playwrights to this choice. Finally, the thesis examines three plays from each playwright to show the development of differing theatrical form in relation to theoretical considerations and practical constraints.