British Realist Theatre

The British New Wave of dramatists, actors and directors in the late 1950s and 1960s created a defining moment in post-war theatre. This text is an introduction to the New Wave, providing the historical and cultural background of this era. Drawing upon contemporary sources as well as the plays themselves, Stephen Lacey considers the plays' influences, their impact and their critical receptions. The playwrights discussed include: Edward Bond, John Osborne, Shelagh Delaney and Harold Pinter.