This page will trace the emergence, development and work of Political Theatre in British alternative theatre from 1968-88. This area also overlaps with Feminist Theatre, new writing, Disability Arts and many more areas of the alternative theatre movement – which was largely political by its very nature. The companies listed here tended to identify specifically as political, focus on workers’ struggles, worked towards taking theatre to working class audiences, and in many cases saw see themselves as part of a larger revolutionary movement in the 1970s and 80s. We are currently looking for a specialist in this area of work who would be interested in creating the web page for us. Please contact us for more details.
Companies identified to date:
The 1982 Company
Agit Prop Street Players
Alternative Cabaret
Avon Touring
Banner Theatre of Actuality
Bite Theatre Group
Bradford Art College Theatre Group
Broadside Mobile Worker’s Theatre
Chilean Popular Theatre
Clapperclaw
The Combination (Brighton)
The Combination (Deptford)
Controlled Attack
Counteract Theatre
DAC Theatre Company
Father Xmas Union
Kartoon Klowns
Head and Heart
Laughing Stock
M6
Midland Red Theatre
Mayday Theatre
Merseyside Unity Theatre
Moving Theatre
No Alternative
North West Spanner
Pirate Jenny
Pit Prop
Recreation Ground Theatre Company
7:84 (England)
7:84 (Scotland)
Sheep Worrying Theatre
Skirting Board Theatre Company
Spoiled Ballot Papers
Sturdy Beggars
Theatre Foundry
Topical Theatre
Theatre Underground
West London Theatre Workshop