Joan Littlewood (Routledge Performance Practitioners)

Joan Littlewood (Routledge Performance Practitioners)

<P>The only book currently available on Joan Littlewood and her company, 'Theatre Workshop', this book explores the background to, and the work of a major influence on twentieth- and twenty-first-century performance.</P> <P></P> <P>Part of the successful <EM>Routledge Performance Practitioners</EM> series, this book uses original archival material to explore Joan Littlewood – a theatrical and cultural innovator whose contributions to theatre made a huge impact on the way theatre was generated, rehearsed and presented during the twentieth century.</P> <P>This is the first book to combine:</P> <UL> <UL> <P></P></UL> <LI>an overview of Littlewood's career in relation to the wider social, political and cultural context</LI> <LI>an exploration of Littlewood's theatrical influences, approach to actor's training, belief in the creative ensemble, attitude to text, rehearsal methods and use of improvisation</LI> <LI>a detailed case study of the origins, research, creative process and thinking behind Littlewood's most famous production, <EM>Oh What a Lovely War</EM>, and an assessment of its impact</LI> <LI>a series of practical exercises designed to capture and illustrate the key approaches Littlewood used in the rehearsal room.</LI></UL> <P>As a first step towards critical understanding, and as an initial exploration before going on to further, primary research, <EM>Joan Littlewood</EM> is unbeatable value for today's student. </P>