REVIEW: Miss Littlewood

Royal Shakespeare Company

The Swan Theatre, Stratford upon Avon

Review by Russell Blackaller:

JOAN Littlewood (1914 – 2002), was an influential British theatre director who rejected the standardized form and innocuous social content of the commercial theatre, in favour of experimental productions of plays concerned with contemporary social issues for working-class audiences.

She founded Theatre Workshop at The Theatre Royal, Stratford, in the East End of London which developed a definite style, influenced by Bertolt Brecht, which encouraged audience participation and used techniques originally developed in the music hall.

Her productions were collective in that the actors were involved in the writing process. Oh! What a Lovely War(1963), an original evocation and criticism of World War I, using popular songs of the period, projected newspaper headlines, and other devices to emphasize its message, became her most famous production.

Even if you have no prior knowledge of Joan Littlewood’s work, Sam Kenyon’s new musical for the RSC, based on her life, is a charming, accessible and funny piece of theatre.

Joan Littlewood (convincingly played by Clare Burt), wearing her signature ‘communist hat’ narrates us her life throughout the show, her actors taking it in turns to play out scenes from Littlewood’s life and bursting into song whenever they feel the urge, though strangely, there is no mention of Brecht’s influence.

There is a strong connection between actor and audience here, ideal for the intimacy of The Swan Theatre. Director Erica Whyman’s ensemble work is inventive and like Joan Littlewood, she has created a culture of equality and inventiveness in her cast.

Artistic director of Cirencester’s Barn Theatre, Iwan Lewis, accompanied me to see Miss Littlewood and we agreed that this is a fine RSC production.

8 out of 10

Miss Littlewood runs in Stratford until 4th August 2018.

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