Theatre of Conscience 1939-53

A Study of Four Touring British Community Theatres

Peter Billingham

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781136465574
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Theatres of Conscience offers an invaluable and essential insight into four touring British theatre companies whose work and contributions to post-war British theatre have largely gone unnoticed. Combining a rigorous scholarly evaluation of their work and their broadly ideological and ethical contribution to wider post-war developments in British theatre. Peter Billingham offers the reader a unique insight into four companies which, motivated by enthusiasm, principles and creative innovation, sought to take the theatre of conscience to theatre-less communities in wartime Britain and during the following decade. Contemporaries of - amongst others - Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, the Pilgrim Players, the Adelphi Players, the Compass Players and the Century Theatre represent a significant but rather overlooked phase in the development of twentieth-century British theatre.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half Title page
• Half Title page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction to the Series
• Acknowledgements
• LIST OF PLATES
• 1 Introduction
• 2 The Pilgrim Players
• 3 The Adelphi Players and Adelphi Guild Theatre
• 4 The Compass Players
• 5 The Century Theatre
• 6 Conclusion
• Appendix A List of Company Contributors from the Pilgrim, Adelphi and Compass Players and the Century Theatre
• Appendix B Cecil Davies, the Daily Express, and Conscientious Objectors
• Appendix C The Second Company of the Adelphi Players' Summary Syllabus for Work in Schools, Summer 1946
• Appendix D The Century Theatre's Venues and Repertoire, 1952–7
• Bibliography
• Index
• series1