Modern Drama: A Very Short Introduction

Kirsten Shepherd-Barr

Very Short Introductions

Traces the development and evolution of modern drama since 1880
Considers drama from a diverse range of cultures and societies
Emphasizes the dual nature of drama, exploring how it behaves on both the page and the stage
Covers the works of key playwrights including Ibsen, Strindberg, Chekhov, Shaw, Wilde, Glaspell, O'Neill, Osborne, Delaney, Hansberry, Williams, Miller, Baraka, and Churchill, and considers how they share themes of hostility and contrarianism
Part of the bestselling Very Short Introductions series - millions of copies sold worldwide

Modern Drama: A Very Short Introduction

Kirsten Shepherd-Barr

Description

The story of modern drama is a tale of extremes, testing both audiences and actors to their limits through hostility and contrarianism. Spanning 1880 to the present, Kirsten E. Shepherd-Barr shows how truly international a phenomenon modern drama has become, and how vibrant and diverse in both text and performance.

This Very Short Introduction explores the major developments of modern drama, covering two decades per chapter, from early modernist theatre through post-war developments to more recent and contemporary theatre. Shepherd-Barr tracks the emergence of new theories from the likes of Brecht and Beckett alongside groundbreaking productions to illuminate the fascinating evolution of modern drama.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Modern Drama: A Very Short Introduction

Kirsten Shepherd-Barr

Very Short Introductions

Modern Drama: A Very Short Introduction

Kirsten Shepherd-Barr

Very Short Introductions

Author Information

Kirsten E. Shepherd-Barr is Professor of English and Theatre Studies at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of St Catherine's College. She is the author of Theatre and Evolution from Ibsen to Beckett (Columbia University Press, 2015), Science on Stage: From Doctor Faustus to Copenhagen (Princeton University Press, 2006), and Ibsen and Early Modernist Theatre, 1890-1900 (Greenwood Press, 1997) as well as numerous articles on modern drama.

Modern Drama: A Very Short Introduction

Kirsten Shepherd-Barr

Very Short Introductions

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Theatre and race in Lorraine Hansberry's Les Blancs

Many playwrights have explored race relations, particularly in America. The growth of the Civil Rights Movement gave rise to a range of plays protesting racism and exploring the African-American experience. Lorraine Hansberry made history as the first black woman to have a play on Broadway: A Raisin in the Sun, also the first play on Broadway to be directed by a black director.

Posted on April 8, 2016

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