Second wave

"School" of playwrights working in the 1960s and 1970s, influenced by sociopolitical changes.

Stage Censorship and Students' Revolt

Until 1968 the representation of "violent, blasphemous and sexual improper scenes" [source of quote??] was censored by the Lord Chamberlain. After this law was abolished young playwrights had more freedom for their original intentions and could show the previous taboos. [How did this happen?? Please give a brief account with special honourable mention of Edward Bond].

Women Playwrights & Fringe Theatre

The role of gender and feministic influence were not only themes in the works of male playwrights. Women in the theatre reached more prestige and dramatists like e.g. Caryl Churchill could break with traditional gender roles. In Cloud Nine (1979) for example she showed "postmodern permutation of gender roles" and debunked the connection between the British "colonial mentality and the sexual oppression".

Not only women but also other themes like the situation of the "workers, the minorities and the homosexuals" were characteristic for the fringe theatre. This form of theatre was established in 1968 and functions as an alternative to the traditional theater because the plays were performed on small stages in the suburbs, basements and factory buildings. This form also influenced the legitimate stage.

Electronic Media

The last factor that could be categorized into the Second Wave was the close correlation of the English drama and the electronic media. This form of media was not only a way to reflect the plays critically but also to use it as element within the play e.g. to show film sequence on stage.

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References

Englische Literaturgeschichte. ed. Hans Ulrich Seeber. 4th ed. Stuttgart/Weimar: J.B. Metzler, 2004. p. 392-394.