British theatrical responses to the First World War have, for years, been considered through the lens of post-war plays such as Journey’s End (1928), Oh What a Lovely War! (1963) and, more recently, the National Theatre’s runaway success, War Horse (2007). Often overlooked, however, are the ways in which the theatre responded to war as it was being waged. Looking both at the types of performance which proliferated during the war, as well as at the theatre industry itself, this paper will show how, between 1914 and 1918, the British theatre responded to the upheaval of war in a way which fulfilled a diversity of social, military, and national needs. Considering plays including Bruce Bairnsfather’s The Better ‘Ole (1917) the paper will reveal the theatre’s little recognised role in the treatment of wounded soldiers, in supporting mental health in the troops, in cultivating patriotic sentiment and in raising monies, and recruiting men.
Conference room, Town Hall (2nd floor) , Cloth Hall, Grote Markt 34, 8900 Ieper.
Part of the In Flanders Fields and University of Kent seminar series 2014-15.
More information: Dominiek.dendooven@ieper.be
