Not dance…but British theatres from 1920 to 2020

[Sebastian]

I am currently reading a wonderful book by Iain Mackintosh, a doyen of British theatre design (not set design but rather the design of theatres), a subject I find I have opinions about without knowing anything about what turns out to be a highly skilled though little understood specialism. 

 

Part memoir, part tour and part history of British theatre from 1920 to the present day (he even has a section on the post Covid theatre scene). There is plenty here to interest readers of the Forum and which will surprise just about anyone who goes to the theatre:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Theatre-Spaces-1920-2020-Finding-Functionalism/dp/1350056243/
 

Highly recommended. 

 

Edited October 8, 2023 by Sebastian

[Kate_N]

@Sebastian  I'm so pleased you have enjoyed Iain's book. It's the annual publication of the Society for Theatre Research (STR, an organisation of which Iain is a long-standing member).

 

You can buy the book via our website here, and if you join the STR, the book comes free as part of your membership. https://www.str.org.uk/publications/annual-publications/

 

We have regular lectures in central London (& streamed for those of us who live elsewhere) - for example, I've chatted with Monica Mason, after the wonderful Jane Pritchard and she were "In Conversation" at one of the lectures. The STR works with other organisations such as the Theatre Collection at the V&A, and the Theatres Trust, to promote the study of British theatre - including dance, of course!

 

Full disclosure: I'm on the general Executive Committee of the STR and chair our research grants scheme.

[Ondine]

 

On 09/10/2023 at 12:27, Kate_N said:

promote the study of British theatre

 

https://up-front.com/puppet-theatre/

 

Another new (ish) theatre. It's in Cumbria. An attached  museum of puppetry is in the making. It has won awards. As it's in the frozen north it hasn't had a great deal of attention outside the county. It's run as an arts charity. (It isn't only used for puppets, though it is specially designed for puppets, but for music and at times other theatre related events.)

 

Recent acquisitions include a collection of toy theatres bought at auction (featured on a TV programme) and the Stanelli circus* is given regular performances.

(*Funded by National Heritage Lottery)

 

 

 

[Kate_N]

Wonderful @Ondine thank you for this. I have a colleague who researches puppetry I shall pass this on to.

[Ondine]

I'll add this here.

 

A documentary, made with no funding by Wendy Richardson, on the life and work of Joan Littewood, and really interesting it is too.

 

British theatre history, in the physical sense and the wider sense. (Free Vimeo link, no copyright issues.)