Joan Littlewood

02/04/2021

01/04/2021

Joan Littlewood influence is seen through modern theatre. One example is the impact of the 𝘍𝘶𝘯 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦. Even though the project was never seen to completion, it sparked the formation of an acting school inspired by Littlewood’s training of Theatre Workshop. Leading to the Centre George’s Pompidou, in Paris. Additionally, the East Fifteeth Acting School, which became a success and even added as a part of the University of Essex.

Even though the project was never finished, we still have blueprints for how the building might have looked like. You can visit moma.org or Ian visits.co.uk for images on the Fun Palace blueprints!

MoMA is a place that fuels creativity, ignites minds, and provides inspiration. Its extraordinary exhibitions and collection of modern and contemporary art are dedicated to helping you understand and enjoy the art of our time. Caption: The Museum of Modern Art Renovation and Expansion Designed by Di...

01/04/2021

Please enjoy some photos from performances of 𝘖𝘩 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘞𝘢𝘳 over the years. Originally directed by Joan Littlewood in 1963. Gaining her and her company, Theatre Workshop, international recognition. A epic, satirical musical based around World War I.

Later the show moved to Theatre West End getting the attention of British royalty like Princess Margaret. Eventually leading to Littlewood’s nomination for Best Director of a Musical, which she was the first woman to be nominated for this award, and its film adaption debut in 1969.

The success of this show is directly tied to the Theatre Workshops style of training. Additionally, Littlewood let her political views fuel her work. 𝘖𝘩 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘞𝘢𝘳 is a perfect example. While developing the show, Joan disapproved of using military uniforms even though the focus of the piece was WWI. Instead, implied commedia dell’arte and styled the characters’ uniforms as Pierrot, clown-like, costumes. Creating a true satirical gem.

01/04/2021

Enjoy this album that explores Theatre Workshop!
Theatre Workshop is the theatre company that Joan Littlewood created in 1945 with her husband at the time Ewan MacColl. Theatre Workshop was considered a collaborative ensemble where Joan would encourage thinking outside of the box and collaboration. Theatre Workshop focused on voice, movement, and improvisation over the strict following of dialogue. Much like Joan Littlewood, Theatre Workshop was innovative for the time and developed new ways to break down and perform a play. British theatre was changed and developed by Theatre Workshop and the methods that Joan Littlewood taught the actors who were lucky enough to learn from her. She used Theatre Workshop to teach and create theatre that had not been done during that time of British Theatre. Make sure to check out the descriptions on each photo to learn a little bit more!

01/04/2021

Let's talk politics!
Joan Littlewood was a very politically active woman. Not only was she married to a communist folk singer, but she was fired and banned from her job at the BBC in 1941 for her extreme communist views. The BBC was worried that she would broadcast her communist agenda on their network. It was only after Joan Littlewood was kicked out of the communist party when her ban from the BBC was lifted.

Fun fact: Joan Littlewood was under surveillance by the MI5 (the United Kingdom's domestic counter intelligence and security agency) from 1939 to the 1950's

After being banned from the BBC, Joan started Theatre Workshop with her husband Ewan MacColl. They wrote plays in a genre of theatre called Agit-prop theatre which had been developed in Soviet Russia. The point of the plays were to bring theatre to the working class and to add politics to theatre. Her plays were meant to make the upper classes feel uncomfortable and they were all very politically motivated. Joan believed that plays should be used to react to political and social change and that theatre was not only used for entertainment purposes.

Fun fact: At the time political views were being repressed so Joan ended up writing scripts under alternative names because she refused to have her views silenced.