(Bilde ovenfor er fra Drury Lane Theatre – VisitLondon.com)
From the times of Richard Burbage, British theatre has had a tradition of the Actor-Manager system. The lead actor chose the plays to be performed, played the lead role, often “directed”, and took care of the finances.
One of the most important of these was David Garrick (1717 – 1779). He is often credited for “making” Shakespeare Shakespeare. Sir Lawrence Olivier is considered the last of the actor-managers.
With the rise of role of the director in theatrical productions in the 20th Century, and the emergence of Auteur Theater, this tradition has largely given way. However, we can see a legacy of the tradition in the role of leading actors as producers – such as Kenneth Branagh in his films, and the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company.
After the Restoration (1660)…
Angry Young Men and Kitchen Sink Drama:
A random selection of playwrights not mentioned elsewhere in the kompendium:
Sir Peter Shaffer 1926 – 2016
- Wrote Equus and Amadeus
John Osborne 1929 – 1994
- Wrote Look Back in Anger 1959
Joe Orton 1933 – 1967
- Black Comedies
- Part of the “Angry Young Men” group in Britain
Athol Fugard 1932 –
- Wrote Master Harold and the Boys 1982
Sir Tom Stoppard 1937 –
- Wrote Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern are Dead 1966
Timberlake Wertenbaker 1951 –
- Wrote Our Country’s Good