What is the relationship between theatre and class? How has this relationship developed over time, from the age of empire to the advent of social democracy and on to contemporary times? What impact has late capitalism had on the theatre industry? What effect has the reduction of government funding for the arts had on career prospects for actors from working-class backgrounds? Theatre and Class is a stark look at the evolution of the political economy in Western society. Exploring the historical development of the notions of 'class', as well as the contemporary debates that still surround this issue, this book reveals how the ascending middle class took centre stage in both the theatre and the public sphere. This concise study traverses the challenging history of 'class' in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries and, through a number of case studies, examines 'class' as a performance both in the theatre and in wider society.

A short and accessible introduction to the topic of theatre and class, traversing the challenging history of 'class' in the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries and the innate 'performance' of this term

About the Author
Paul Murphy is a Reader in Drama at Queen's University Belfast, UK. He engages in transdisciplinary, collaborative research that focuses on two broad areas: simulation-based education for health and social care; arts-based interventions for public health.


Book Information
ISBN 9781350350649
Author Paul Murphy
Format Paperback
Page Count 120
Imprint Methuen Drama
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC