Covering the five centuries from Shakespeare's Bankside playhouses to today's West End, Paul Ibell's Theatreland explores the history and current state of the London stage, taking the reader through the streets and alleyways of the theatre capital of the world. London's theatre district is quite literally built on the past. Although the book celebrates this, and the artistic achievements that still resonate today, it also emphasises that theatre is an art form that can only survive and flourish through fresh talent, new work and constant reinterpretation of old classics. Through a series of entertaining and engaging chapters on themes, personalities and trends, Theatreland reflects the effortless co-existence between past and present that is such a feature of London's theatre world, and shows how actors and producers, playwrights and publicists, theatre historians and modern architects, choreographers, critics and customers all play their part in ensuring that London remains the theatre capital of the world. Theatreland brings back to life the generations of actors, impresarios, princes and playwrights who created and shaped this cityscape, and describes how the 21st century theatre industry continues to develop and change.
Autorentext
Paul Ibell is a writer and lecturer specialising in theatre, and a past Awards Manager for the Olivier Awards and Theatre Awards UK.
Inhalt
Contents
(i) Illustrations
(ii) Acknowledgments
(iii) Introduction
1 A River Runs Through It
2 The First West End
3 The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
4 Boys Will Be Girls
5 Royalty At The Theatre
6 Dynasties
7 Americans in London
8 St Martin's Lane
9 Drama Queens: Ivor Novello and Noël Coward
10 Shaftesbury Avenue
11 The Donmar Warehouse
12 West End Women
13 An Actor's Life
14 Let's Do The Show Right Here! Staging A Show
15 Theatre Critics: Sheridan Morley and his Colleagues
16 The Actors' Church
17 Selling the Show
18 What About The Audience?
19 Preserving the Past/Ensuring The Future
20 Theatre Ghosts
21 The Eternal Debate: Drama or Musicals?
22 Ballet - And A Little Opera, Too
23 Tony Field: A Life In Theatre
24 Little and Large: Two Theatre Collections
25 Films On Stage
26 The Savoy: From Theatre to Hotel
27 The Road Goes On
Index