By: Aleks Sierz, Philip Roberts (Editor), Richard Boon (Editor), Graham Saunders (As told to), Catherine Rees (As told to)

Paperback

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Essential for students of theatre studies, this series of 6 decadal volumes provides a critical survey and study of the theatre produced in each decade from the 1950s to the present. Each volume features a critical analysis of the work of four key playwrights from that decade together with an extensive commentary on the period.
The 90s volume provides a detailed study of the work of four of the major playwrights who emerged: Sarah Kane, Anthony Neilson, Mark Ravenhill and Philip Ridley.
As with other volumes in the series, it offers an analysis of some of its most important and representative plays and playwrights; provides the appropriate contextual information, and revisits each decade from the perspective of the twenty first century. Contents: 1. A chronological survey of the decade: the social, cultural and technological changes and the playwrights of the time. 2. The decade as it looked then: theatrical activity, political circumstances and historical context. 3. The four writers from their beginnings up to the start of the decade. 4. An analysis of their plays within the decade combined with a study of primary material such as early play drafts, interviews and critical receptions of the time. 5. A new interview with the writers, reflecting on the period and the plays under discussion. 6. An Afterword: what the writers went on to do next. 7. Select bibliographies
Edited by Aleks Sierz and with essays from three further leading scholars, this is an authoritative and stimulating reassessment of British playwriting in the 1990s.

For all readers interested in the historical context and significant features of 1990s British theatre, this book provides vivid and comprehensive snapshots of the period and a concise introduction to its playwrights, theatre companies, theatres, funding bodies and preoccupations...a volume that is built upon wide-ranging knowledge and excellent research, is full of original ideas, and enthusiastically engages with Britain's theatre history and culture through the 1990s and in so doing comprises an important introduction to 1990s theatre history and criticism. -- Louise Lepage Platform

General Preface	p. vii
Acknowledgements	p. ix
Introduction: Living in the 1990s	p. 1
Background	p. 1
Everyday life	p. 2
Education	p. 8
Media	p. 9
Culture	p. 14
Science, technology and industry	p. 21
Politics	p. 24
Theatre in the 1990s	p. 28
Background	p. 28
Heritage, culture and the Arts Council	p. 31
Flagship theatres: West End, National and RSC	p. 35
Off-West End and companies	p. 45
New writing	p. 54
Experimental, fringe and live art	p. 68
Outside London: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland	p. 77
Conclusion	p. 85
Playwrights and Plays	p. 88
Philip Ridley	p. 88
Introduction	p. 88
The Pitchfork Disney	p. 91
The Fastest Clock in the Universe	p. 98
Ghost from a Perfect Place	p. 104
Conclusion	p. 109
Sarah Kane	p. 112
Introduction	p. 112
Blasted	p. 114
Cleansed	p. 122
4.48 Psychosis	p. 128
Conclusion	p. 134
Anthony Neilson	p. 137
Introduction	p. 137
Normal	p. 142
Penetrator	p. 148
The Censor	p. 155
Conclusion	p. 161
Mark Ravenhill	p. 163
Introduction	p. 164
Shopping and Fucking	p. 168
Some Explicit Polaroids	p. 174
Mother Clap's Molly House	p. 178
Conclusion	p. 185
Documents	p. 189
Philip Ridley: Vesper- a Monologue	p. 189
Sarah Kane: Interview with Dan Rebellato	p. 198
Anthony Neilson: In His Own Words	p. 209
Mark Ravenhill: 'A Tear in the Fabric'	p. 214
Afterword	p. 222
Notes	p. 235
Select Bibliography	p. 254
Index	p. 261
Notes on Contributors	p. 276
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

ISBN: 9781408129265
ISBN-10: 1408129264
Series: Decades of Modern British Playwriting
Audience: Professional
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 352
Published: 1st June 2012
Dimensions (cm): 21.7 x 13.7  x 2.1
Weight (kg): 0.374