Alternative Political Theatre in Britain in the 1970s: From Brecht to Thatcher

The Background: The Workers’ Theatre Movement: The Workers’ Theatre Movement: Living Newspaper (the Federal Theatre project) Living Newspaper (the Federal Theatre project) Theatre Union: Manchester Theatre Union: Manchester Theatre Workshop: Stratford, London (Joan Littlewood and Ewen MacColl) Theatre Workshop: Stratford, London (Joan Littlewood and Ewen MacColl)

Victoria Theatre, Stoke: Documentary Theatre in a conventional theatrical setting Documentary Theatre in a conventional theatrical setting Founded in 1962 as ‘theatre in the round’ Founded in 1962 as ‘theatre in the round’ Peter Cheeseman, director from 1964 Peter Cheeseman, director from 1964 Productions: The Knotty, The Jolly Potters, The Fight for Shelton Bar Productions: The Knotty, The Jolly Potters, The Fight for Shelton Bar Ensemble practice, writer-in-residence (Ayckbourn, Plater, Terson, Ken Campbell, Halliwell) archival research and oral history: ‘the words of the time’ Ensemble practice, writer-in-residence (Ayckbourn, Plater, Terson, Ken Campbell, Halliwell) archival research and oral history: ‘the words of the time’ Performance styles Performance styles

The 1970s Political Context: From Militancy to Thatcher ! – Conservative Government: industrial strife (Mining, Steel etc.) ! – Conservative Government: industrial strife (Mining, Steel etc.) – Labour Government – Labour Government Post-1968 Post-1968 Feminism: Women’s Liberation Movement Feminism: Women’s Liberation Movement Chile Solidarity Chile Solidarity Anti-Nazi League Anti-Nazi League

The Theatre Companies 60 alternative theatre companies 60 alternative theatre companies 7:84 (Scotland) and 7:84 (England); (John McGrath) 7:84 (Scotland) and 7:84 (England); (John McGrath) Monstrous Regiment (Gillian Hanna) Monstrous Regiment (Gillian Hanna) Banner Banner Red Ladder Red Ladder CAST [Cartoon Archetypal Slogan Theatre] CAST [Cartoon Archetypal Slogan Theatre] Foco Novo Foco Novo Belt and Braces (Gavin Richards) Belt and Braces (Gavin Richards) Hull Truck Touring Company Hull Truck Touring Company Joint Stock Joint Stock The Bite Theatre Group The Bite Theatre Group

Organisation, Venues, and Performance Styles Collectives Collectives Left-wing politics Left-wing politics Non-conventional spaces: church halls, pubs, trade union clubs, community centres Non-conventional spaces: church halls, pubs, trade union clubs, community centres Audiences: post-performance discussions Audiences: post-performance discussions Production and staging: music, mime, slide projection, agitprop, cartoon, music hall, cabaret, folk theatre Production and staging: music, mime, slide projection, agitprop, cartoon, music hall, cabaret, folk theatre Some groups wrote and devised their own plays, others linked with writers and/or performed already scripted pieces (e.g. Dario Fo’s Accidental Death of an Anarchist, and other Fo and Franca Rame plays) Some groups wrote and devised their own plays, others linked with writers and/or performed already scripted pieces (e.g. Dario Fo’s Accidental Death of an Anarchist, and other Fo and Franca Rame plays) Funding (Arts Council) and Wages (Equity minimum) Funding (Arts Council) and Wages (Equity minimum)

Texts Referred to: The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black Oil The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black Oil SCUM SCUM Vinegar Tom Vinegar Tom England Expects England Expects Accidental Death of an Anarchist Accidental Death of an Anarchist The Bite The Bite The Great Divide The Great Divide