MODERN & POSTMODERN ENGLISH DRAMA: Features, Examples, Major Dramatists

  

MODERN & POSTMODERN ENGLISH DRAMA

Features, Examples, Major Dramatists

INTRODUCTION:

The drama which had suffered a steep decline during the Victorian Age was revived with great force at the beginning of the 20th century. The body of dramatic works written and performed in English during the first half of 20^th century is known as Modern Drama and that written 1950 onwards is called the Post-Modern Drama. 20^th century saw a great deal of experimentation and innovation in the form and content of drama, as playwrights  to reflect the changing social, political, and cultural landscape of their times.

·     Some of the most influential modern English playwrights are Henrik Ibsen, G. B. Shaw, John Galsworthy, T. S. Eliot and others.

·     Some of the most outstanding Post-Modern dramatists include Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Edward Albee, Tom Stoppard, Caryl Churchill and others.

FEATURES OF MODERN ENGLISH DRAMA:

MAJOR DRAMATISTS:

There were many influential dramatists in 20th-century English literature, but some of the major ones are:

1.  Henrik Ibsen- Norwegian playwright, is widely regarded as the father of modern drama. His plays, such as "A Doll's House," "Ghosts," and "HeddaGabler," broke new ground by tackling social issues and exploring the inner lives of characters in a realistic, psychological way.

2.  George Bernard Shaw - Irish playwright, was heavily influenced by Ibsen's work and continued his legacy in the English-speaking world. Shaw's plays, such as "Pygmalion," "Mrs. Warren's Profession," and "Man and Superman," also tackled social issues and challenged conventional attitudes about class, gender, and politics. Shaw's writing style was known for its wit and humor, as well as its intellectual depth.

3.  Samuel Beckett- Irish-born playwright known for his experimental and absurdist works, including "Waiting for Godot" and "Endgame."

4.  Harold Pinter - English playwright known for his use of ambiguous dialogue, power struggles, and social commentary, with plays like "The Birthday Party" and "The Homecoming."

5.  Tennessee Williams- American playwright known for his intense, character-driven dramas, including "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

6.  Arthur Miller- American playwright known for his social and political commentary, with plays like "Death of a Salesman" and "The Crucible."

7.  Edward Albee- American playwright known for his psychological explorations of identity and relationships, including "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "The Zoo Story."

8.  Tom Stoppard- English playwright known for his intellectual wit and complex, layered narratives, including "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" and "Arcadia."

9.  Caryl Churchill - English playwright known for her experimentation with form and structure, as well as her exploration of social and political issues, with plays like "Top Girls" and "Cloud Nine."

TIMELINE OF MODERN ENGLISH DRAMA:

Early 20th century:

• George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" (1913)
• J.M. Synge's "The Playboy of the Western World" (1907)
• John Galsworthy's "The Silver Box" (1906)

1920s:

• Noel Coward's "Hay Fever" (1925)
• T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" (1922)

 

1930s:

• W.H. Auden's "The Dance of Death" (1933)
• Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" (1953)

1940s:

• Tennessee Williams's "The Glass Menagerie" (1944)
• Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" (1949)

1950s:

• Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1962)

• Harold Pinter's "The Caretaker" (1960), "The Birthday Party" (1957)
• Samuel Beckett's "Endgame" (1957)

• John Osborne's "Look Back in Anger" (1956)

1960s:

• Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" (1966)
• Peter Shaffer's "Equus" (1973)
• David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross" (1983)

 

1970s:

• Caryl Churchill's "Cloud Nine" (1979)
• Brian Friel's "Translations" (1980)
• Athol Fugard's "Master Harold"... and the Boys" (1982)

1980s:

• Tony Kushner's "Angels in America" (1991)
• August Wilson's "Fences" (1985)
• David Henry Hwang's "M. Butterfly" (1988)

1990s:

• Sarah Kane's "Blasted" (1995)
• Martin McDonagh's "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" (1996)
• Neil LaBute's "In the Company of Men" (1997)

2000s:

• David Mamet's "Oleanna" (2009)
• Caryl Churchill's "Love and Information" (2012)
• Lucy Kirkwood's "Chimerica" (2013)

2010s:

• Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's "An Octoroon" (2014)
• Jez Butterworth's "The Ferryman" (2017)
• Lynn Nottage's "Sweat" (2015)

CONCLUSION:

In this way, we may sum up by saying that after the decline of drama during the Victorian age, we see a huge rise of English drama during the 20^th century. Ibsen, Pinter, G. B. Shaw and others contributed immensely to the development of modern drama.

·      English drama during the 20^th centuryemphasizes on realism, which often involves the use of realistic dialogue, settings, and characters.

·      Many modern English plays also challenge traditional narrative structures, experiment with form and style, and incorporate elements of other art forms such as dance, music, and video.

·      Modern English drama often explores contemporary social issues, including class, race, gender, sexuality, politics, and war.

·      Many plays also delve deeply into the psychological and emotional lives of their characters, exploring their motivations, desires, and conflicts.