What is the relationship between theatre and class? How has this relationship developed over time, from the age of empire to the advent of social democracy and on to contemporary times? What impact has late capitalism had on the theatre industry? What effect has the reduction of government funding for the arts had on career prospects for actors from working-class backgrounds?
Theatre and Class is a stark look at the evolution of the political economy in Western society. Exploring the historical development of the notions of 'class', as well as the contemporary debates that still surround this issue, this book reveals how the ascending middle class took centre stage in both the theatre and the public sphere.
This concise study traverses the challenging history of 'class' in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries and, through a number of case studies, examines 'class' as a performance both in the theatre and in wider society.
- ISBN10 1350350648
- ISBN13 9781350350649
- Publish Date 17 October 2024 (first published 19 September 2024)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Imprint Methuen Drama
- Format Paperback
- Pages 120
- Language English