Unleashing Britain: Theatre Gets Real, 1955-64

The ten years of British theatre that started with the British premiere of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot and John Osborne's seminal Look Back in Anger put Britain at the hub of the cultural map: no longer were Paris and New York the centres of all that was new and exciting. Focusing on the iconic productions of the time, this book relates those heady days in the performing arts to the fashion, design, popular music and style of the moment, and conveys the excitement of that era through vivid contemporary illustrations. boundaries in every direction: Harold Pinter, Peter Brook, Brendan Behan on the stage; Alan Bennett, Jonathan Miller, Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore beyond the fringe; Adam Faith, Mick Jagger and John Lennon (along with the Teddy Boys) in the clubs and the dance halls; Mary Quant and Barbara Hulanicki of Biba on the high street. Drawing on the unique archives of the Theatre Museum, Jim Fowler recreates those days and those crazes, iconic images of the era. heart of London's 'Theatreland'. The Museum, part of the V&A, provides a unique starting point to discover the extraordinary story, both past and present, of the performing arts in the UK. Its collections cover most forms of live entertainment, especially theatre, dance, opera and musical theatre. Unleashing Britain is the first Theatre Museum book from V&A Publications.