This critical introduction to British musical theatre since 1950 is the first book to discuss its post-war developments from the perspective of British as opposed to American popular culture. The genre is situated within the historical context of post-war British society in order to explore the range of forms through which significant sociocultural moments are represented. Introductory chapters analyse the way British musicals have responded to social change, the forms of popular theatre and music from which they have developed and their originality in elaborating new narrative strategies since the seventies. A key feature of the book is its close readings of twelve key works, from Salad Days (1954) and Oliver! (1960) to global smash hits such as Les Misrables (1985) and The Phantom of the Opera (1986) and beyond, including the latest critical and box-office success Matilda (2011). Also analysed are British favourites (Blood Brothers, 1983), cult shows (The Rocky Horror Show, 1975) and musicals with a pre-existing fan-base, such as Mamma Mia! (1999).
List of Illustrations Introduction Part I: Musicals and Social Change (Robert Gordon) 1.1 British Theatre and Society after the Second World War 1.2 Innovation and Nostalgia: Camp in the Post-War British Musical Case Study 1: Salad Days 1.3 Rock and Roll and the Theatre Revolution 1.4 The Play with Music: Political Theatre and Working-Class Culture Case Study 2: Blood Brothers 1.5 The Impact of Oliver! 1.6 After Jesus Christ Superstar: Globalization and Cultural Specificity Case Study 3: Billy Elliot 1.7 Global and Local: The Family Musical Case Study 4: Matilda - The Musical Part II: British Popular Culture and Musical Theatre (Millie Taylor) 2.1 Nostalgia in Character and Dramatic Form Case Study 5: Oh What a Lovely War! 2.2 Reflecting Multiculturalism Case Study 6: Bombay Dreams 2.3 Changing Signification in Popular Music Case Study 7: Oliver! Case Study 8: The Rocky Horror Show Conclusion to Part Two Part III: Narrative and Story-Telling in the British Musical since 1970 (Olaf Jubin) Preamble Introduction 3.1 Concept Recordings: When What You See is What You Have Heard Case Study 9: Jesus Christ Superstar 3.2 Sung-Through Shows: When the Spoken Word is Shunned 3.3 Stage Adaptations of Novels: When the Written Word Becomes Theatrical Action Case Study 10: Les Miserables Case Study 11: The Phantom of the Opera 3.4 Original Stories: When the Content is Unknown 3.5 Jukebox Musicals: When You Know All the Songs Case Study 12: Mamma Mia! 3.6 Stage Adaptation of Films: When the Cinematic Becomes the Theatrical Conclusion Timeline Notes Selective Bibliography Discography Filmography Index
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