Synopses & Reviews
A revised and updated version of Modern British Drama, 1890-1990, is the first one-volume analysis of English playwriting over the twentieth century. Through detailed discussions of major dramatists and plays, Christopher Innes traces the evolution of modernism from Bernard Shaw to the present as well as theatrical developments over the period. The text includes information on the social and political environment surrounding the plays, first productions and critical reception, and chronology and illustrations from key performances, lists of playwrights and works, and selective bibliographies. It is an invaluable guide for students, theater-goers and theater historians.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 544-552) and index.
Synopsis
A revised and updated version of Modern British Drama, 1890-1990, now covering the whole twentieth century, this is the first one-volume analysis of English playwriting to cover the most exciting and productive period in British Theatre from its inception to today. Through detailed discussions of major dramatists and plays, Innes traces the evolution of modernism from Bernard Shaw to Patrick Marber and Sarah Kane, and theatrical developments over the whole century. Includes information on the social and political environment surrounding the plays, first productions, and critical reception, plus chronology, illustrations from key performances, lists of playwrights and works, and selective bibliographies. An invaluable guide for students, theatre-goers and theatre historians.
Synopsis
This is the first one-volume analysis of British drama, from 1890-1990, covering the most dynamic and exciting period in its history since Shakespeare.
About the Author
Christopher Innes is one of the leading experts in the field of modern British drama studies and he has written and published extensively in this and related areas. His books include Piscator"s Political Theatre, Modern German Drama, Holy Theatre, Edward Gordon Craig, Avant Garde Theatre: 1892'"1992, and A Sourcebook on Naturalistic Theatre, as well as Modern British Drama: 1890'"1990. Professor Innes also serves as the General Editor for the Cambridge University Press series Directors in Perspective, and holds the Canada Research Chair in Performance and Culture.
Table of Contents
List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Chronology; 1. Contexts; 2. Defining modernism: George Bernard Shaw; 3. Social themes and realistic formulae [playwrights discussed include: Granville-Barker, Workers" Theatre Movement; Rattigan; Osborne; Wesker; Brechtian influences; Arden; Bond; Edgar; Brenton; Hare; Gems]; 4. The comic mirror - tradition and innovation [playwrights discussed include: Maugham; Coward; Travers; Orton; Beckett; Pinter; Barnes; Griffiths; Ayckbourn; Frayn; Stoppard; Marber]; 5. Poetic drama - verse, fantasy and symbolic images [playwrights discussed include: Barrie; Priestley; Auden; Isherwood; Eliot; Fry; Shaffer; Whiting; Rudkin; Barker; Churchill; Kane; McBurney]; Bibliographies; Index.