Martin Sherman's worldwide hit play Bent took London by storm in 1979 when it was first performed by the Royal Court Theatre with Ian McKellen as Max (a character written with the actor in mind). The play itself caused an uproar. It educated the world Sherman explains. People knew about how the Third Reich treated Jews and to some extent gypsies and political prisoners. But very little had come out about their treatment of homosexuals. Gays were arrested and interned at work camps prior to the genocide of Jews gypsies and handicapped and continued to be imprisoned even after the fall of the Third Reich and liberation of the camps. The play Bent highlights the reason why - a largely ignored German law Paragraph 175 making homosexuality a criminal offense which Hitler reactivated and strengthened during his rise to power.

Book Information
ISBN 9781557833365
Author Martin Sherman
Format Paperback
Page Count 82
Imprint Applause Theatre Book Publishers
Publisher Hal Leonard Corporation
Weight(grams) 91g
Dimensions(mm) 203mm * 133mm * 5mm