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Change in Theatre
Disruption of theatre occurred throughout the world due to the start of World War II. A reassessment in values was the main cause to this. "An atmosphere of complacency and optimism...the United States was geographically removed from the fighting" (Brockett 193). Brocket concludes that "These factors may explain why theatre and drama in America changed little in the years immediately following World War II (193). -
Cold War
America made an agreement to send students, like performers, to spread their teachings to other countries. Audiences were able to see dance groups, symphony orchestras, ice shows, circuses, operas, and individual artists (Dever). This was to lighten the emotions that were caused from the Cold War. -
Government Selfishness
In England, theatre was never truly appreciated. During the beginning of the war, however, the government fully funded the performances to help sponsor/promote military personnel, in hopes to build the morale of the military. Brockett says in "The Essential Theatre,"Government funding increased after 1948, when parliament authorized local authorities to devote a percentage of their tax revenues to the arts" (201). -
"Waiting for Godot" is produced
The French Tragicomedy written by Sameul Breckett, "Waiting for Godot," taught the audience of the purposelessness of life. "When it first premiered in Paris, it originally stunned audiences but within a short time, audiences came to the theater prepared for a wholly new dramatic experience." (TheKennedyCenter). The play would then perform over 300 times. According to Somnath Sarkar, she says "Beckett’s Waiting for Godot is a response to the brutal advance of capitalism" (Sarkar). -
Civil Rights Movement
"Throughout the country in the early 1960s, the issues of civil rights were in the news and on television nearly every day, but mostly absent on Broadway" (Maslon). The ANT theatre was one of the first known to help promote quality to try and gain support from the white community through musical promotion. -
Kitchen Sink Realism
The 50's were an interesting time period for British theatre.The working class and poor were starting to be more recognized due to a new movement called "Kitchen Sink Realism." The cultural movement of Kitchen Sink Realism was rooted in the ideals of social realism, an artistic movement, expressed in the visual and other realist arts, which depicts working class activities (Classicartfilms). -
"Suburban Dream"
After the war, musicals remained popular but they started to reflect off of the change in life because of the war (Prezi). An example of this is the stereotypical "housewife" in the late 1950s. -
Royal Court Theatre
Many of the english groups were subsidized in the late 50s and early 60s. The third group to fall under this category was the non profit English Stage Company (Royal Court Theatre). Brockett states, "[It] made its mark by championing new playwrights writing for a noncommercial audience. These new playwrights created works that helped to revitalize British drama (203). -
Jim Allen - Famous Playwright
After 1945, theaters continued expanding outside of major cities into regional and provincial areas, as well as state-sponsored theaters including London’s National Theatre. Over in the United States Broadway theaters in New York City were the center of theater life (Norton). One of the most famous playwrights was Jim Allen. He first wrote for Coronation Street in the early 60s where he would go on to write 36 episodes. JIm fallen is best known for his collaborations with Ken Loach (Fandom). -
Poor Theatre
The new term "Poor Theatre" was brought about by a man with the name of Jerzy Grotowski, a Polish theatre director. According to "Dramaclasses.com," it states, "He invented the term 'Poor Theatre': a style of performance that got rid of all extraneous parts of theatre. This meant there were no lavish costumes, complicated props or detailed sets." This new method of theatre really showed the raw skill and talent of the actors and used only a few props.