Little Woods
Nicknamed "the Mother of Modern Theater" for her immense contributions to the British stage, Joan Littlewood breathed new life into theater by introducing an unpredictability that turned the generally complacent, well-behaved world of stage performance on its head. A London native, Littlewood won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, though she would quickly drop out and relocate to Manchester to try her hand at repertory theater. Quickly tiring of that as well, Littlewood became fascinated with avant-garde theater and formed both the Theater of Action and Theater Union with playwright and future husband Jimmy Miller (born Ewan McCall). Touring as a troupe and introducing the concept of the Living Newspaper (improvisational theater based on newspaper stories) to British audiences, the Theater of Action would in 1953 find a home in Stanford East's dilapidated Theater Royal. A cutting-edge troupe that was at one point prosecuted for breaching censorship laws, the Theater of Actions' turbulent nature proved the demise of Littlewood and Miller's marriage, though the company did produce the controversial and immensely popular stage play A Taste of Honey, concerning an interracial relationship between a white woman and a black sailor.
Little Woods
Little Woods
Little Woods
Little Woods
Little Woods
Little Woods
Little Woods
Little Woods
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