The Cambridge Companion to British Theatre of the First World War [Hardcover]

The first comprehensive guide to British theatre's engagement with the First World War over the last century.The first comprehensive guide to British theatre's engagement with the First World War over the last century, providing accessible and lively coverage of theatre's role in the representation and remembrance of events, focusing on topics including regionality, politics, popular performance, Shakespeare, class, race and gender.The first comprehensive guide to British theatre's engagement with the First World War over the last century, providing accessible and lively coverage of theatre's role in the representation and remembrance of events, focusing on topics including regionality, politics, popular performance, Shakespeare, class, race and gender.This is the first comprehensive guide to British theatre's engagement with the First World War over the last century, from 1900 to the Armistice Day centenary in 2018. Considering theatre as both an industry and literary-cultural artform, it provides a contextual grounding in the prelude to the conflict and coverage of post-war plays as well as wartime performances. Lively chapters from leading scholars explore diverse genres and practices, from Shakespeare to melodrama, while focusing on topics including regionality, national identity, propaganda, commemoration, gender, censorship and international influences. Presenting original scholarship in an accessible and engaging manner, this Companion establishes theatre as a vital means of understanding wartime experiences, and a central feature in commemoration and remembrance.Introduction: British theatre and the first world war Helen E. M. Brooks; Part I. Mobilising for War: 1. Foreshadowing the war: future war and invasion plays, 19001914 Ailise Bulfin; 2. Mobilising the nation: the comic revue in wartime Robert Dean; Part II. Theatre During the War: 3. Challenging times: making theatre during the war Claire Cochrane; 4. Everyone's a playgoer now!: theatregoing and thels'