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While prior to WWII, most European countries had subsidized theatre, England thought that theatre should be a business that should be able to support itself. "But during World War II, the government began to allocate funds to underwrite performances intended to build the morale of military troops and factory workers" (Brockett 208). This is huge, as the funding from the subsidies supported a lot of performance art that may not have otherwise made it. -
In 1956, The English Stage Company was founded. This preforming arts company "made it's mark by assisting new playwrights" (Brockett 210).While this company was one of three major ones in England, it still made a huge impact. The ESC welcomed ideas and works that were different from the socially accepted norms, including John Osborne's Look back in Anger (1956) which addressed many social issues of the time. -
Tom Stoppard moved to England after growing up in Singapore. In 1962 he started working for the Scene magazine as a theatre critic. His interest grew and he began to write some of his own work. His play "Jumpers" was preformed at the National Theatre in 1972. His work grew in popularity. Since then, he has won a Tony award and he was even knighted! (British Literature Council). -
For years, there were a lot of talks about establishing a place for the arts to live, "In 1848 the idea of a national theatre was proposed by the publisher Effingham Wilson" (Britannica). There were a lot of issues standing in the way of this idea coming to life, including both world wars. In 1963, the National Theatre was inaugurated "under the direction of Sir Laurence Oliver, perhaps England's foremost actor" (Brockett 209). -
After WW2, the Art Council was established to continue subsidizing performing arts. The council was "created to decide which organizations should receive funds"(Brockett 208). According to the Royal Shakespeare Company's website, in 1963 they got their first subsidy from the Arts Council. -
The National Theatre in London is inaugurated by Laurence Oliver. On opening night, "Hamlet" was preformed. Peter O'Toole starred in the performance. This was the first live production put on with an audience present. (The Royal National Theatre). -
Peter Brook produces "Marat/Sade" at the Royal Shakespeare Company. This play tells the story of a French Writer as he is institutionalized in an insane asylum. As the play progresses, the patients unravel! Peter Brooks also went on to showcase "A Midsummer Nights Dream" at the RSC. (Brockett 202). "Marat/Shade" is about the French Revolution and uses symbolism to reflect a larger message of truly being free. (The Modern Language Review). -
Edward Bond "has long been one of England's most controversial playwrights" (Brockett 211). Most of his work was aimed towards the conflict that mankind goes through and the violence that people have with each other. In his work, Saved, a baby was stoned to death onstage. As mentioned in his work, Lear, "We are like caged animals, but, instead of turning on our keepers... we vent our frustration and animosity on our fellow captives" (Cambridge University Press). -
Edward Bond produced this play after "Saved". "Early Morning" is a play in which Queen Victora is in a same-sex relationship. This was very controversial at the time. It premiered in March of 1968. While this play was not well received by Bond's superiors, it forced Parliament to reevaluate the Licensing Act that had been upheld since 1737, and it would then be abolished. A victory over Censorship (Brocket 204)! -
"In 1976, the National Theatre moved into its newly completed facilities, the most elaborate in England, with three performance spaces" (Brockett 209). The National Theatre moving into a new, state of the art facility allowed for more performances to be put on and enjoyed by larger audiences. -
Brockett, Oscar, et al., "The Essential of Theatre." Chapter 8. Cengage Learning, 2011.
Patterson, M. (2003). Rewriting Shakespeare: Edward Bond's Lear (1971). In Strategies of Political Theatre: Post-War British Playwrights (Cambridge Studies in Modern Theatre, pp. 138-153). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511486197.011
The National Theatre Company
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ (Theatre company photos) -
“History of the National Theatre.” National Theatre, 14 Aug. 2018, www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/about-the-national-theatre/history.
“History of the RSC: A Timeline.” Royal Shakespeare Company, www.rsc.org.uk/about-us/history.
John J. White. “History and Cruelty in Peter Weiss’s ‘Marat/Sade.’” The Modern Language Review, vol. 63, no. 2, Modern Humanities Research Association, 1968, pp. 437–48, https://doi.org/10.2307/3723254. -
The National Archives, Military Records https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/photos (WW2 photo)
“Tom Stoppard.” Literature, British Global Council, 1 Jan. 1970, literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/tom-stoppard.