Product Description

English Drama Since 1940 considers the bids of successive post-war dramatists to find language and images of remorseless disclosure, appropriate to the public manifestation of sensed crisis and the interrogation of the ideal of renewal.  This book introduces the period and its discourse whilst redefining them, to give proper consideration to developments of themes, styles, concerns and contexts from the 80s to the present.  The book offers succinct and analytical introductions to the work of 60 dramatists, whilst arguing for (re)appraisal of many dates critical perspectives, in order to stimulate further argument in the field.












 

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #661704 in Books
• Published on: 2003-01-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 252 pages

From the Back Cover

This book examines the most vital, varied and innovative period of English dramatic writing since Shakespeare and the Renaissance. It considers the major dramatists of this period, including Beckett, Pinter, Osborne, Wesker, Bond, Churchill, Barker, Cartwright and Kane.

English Drama Since 1940 considers the bids of successive post-war dramatists to find language and images which interrogate conventional relationships between power, sexuality and morality.  It shows how experimental British Drama has purposefully sought to be an art form through which private feelings can be expressed so as to have public consequences, and through which fictional physical confrontations can have personal repercussions for those who witness challenging events. It also notes how not only English but also Irish, Welsh and Scottish dramatists have sought critical dialogue with the dominant English terms of definition.

This book introduces the period and its discourses whilst redefining them, to give proper consideration to developments of themes, styles, concerns and contexts from the 80s to the present.  The book offers succinct and analytical introductions to the works of over 60 dramatists, whilst arguing for reappraisal of many dated critical perspectives, in order to stimulate further argument in the field.

DAVID IAN RABEY is Reader in Drama and Subject Leader of Theatre Studies at The University of Wales, Aberystwyth. His publications include British and Irish Political drama in the Twentieth Century (1986), Howard Barker: Politics and Desire (1989) and David Rudkin: Sacred Disobedience (1997). He is also a director, performer and dramatist. 

About the Author
David Ian Rabey is Reader in Drama and Subject Leader of Theatre Studies at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.  He is also a dramatist, director and performer.

Customer Reviews

David Rabey. English drama since 1940
This is an excellent introductory survey study on British drama. It combines a historical overview ( including a useful timeline in the appendix linking political and cultural events to the plays and dramtists discussed ), to brief but cogent readings of both canonical and neglected plays.
While the book does provide a 'received' history of the major plays and movements in British theatre during this period, the author is not afraid to voice his opinion on playwrights who command a significance ( eg Tom Stoppard )out of proportion to the content of their work. This makes the book provocative as well as informative.
This approach can lead to the author promoting certain writers ( eg Howard Barker and David Rudkin ) to a prominence other works of criticism would deny them, but as long as one is aware of these personal preferences it makes no difference in the overall apprecciation of this book.