The Theatre of David Greig

by Wallace, Clare

• ISBN13: 9781408157329
• ISBN10: 1408157322
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2013-10-24
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama

Summary

David Greig has been described as 'one of the most interesting and adventurous British dramatists of his generation' (Daily Telegraph) and 'one of the most intellectually stimulating dramatists around' (Guardian). Since he began writing for theatre in the early nineties, his work has been both copious and remarkably varied, defying neat generalisations or attempts to pigeon-hole his work. Besides his original plays, he has adapated classics, is co-founder of the Suspect Culture Theatre Group and is currently Dramaturge for the National Theatre of Scotland.

This Critical Companion provides an analytical survey of his work, from his early plays such as Europe and The Architect through to more recent works Damascus, Dunsinane and Ramallah; it also considers the plays produced with Suspect Culture and his work for young audiences. As such it is the first book to provide a critical account of the full variety of his work and will appeal to students and fans of contemporary British theatre.

Clare Wallace provides a detailed analysis of a broad selection of plays and their productions, reviews current discourses about his work and offers a framework for enquiry. The Companion features an interview with David Greig and a further three essays by leading academics offering a variety of critical perspectives.

Author Biography

Clare Wallace is Senior Lecturer in Irish and British Literature and Irish and Intercultural Studies at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. She is a contributor to the two volumes The Methuen Drama Guide to Contemporary Irish and British Playwrights and author of Suspect Cultures: Narrative, Identity and Citation in 1990s New Drama.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1 Suspect Culture
2 Lesson Plays
Europe, Stalinland, Petra, Dr Korczak's Example, The Architect, Yellow Moon, Monster in the Hall, Fragile, Letter of Last Resort
3 Scotland
Caledonia Dreaming, Victoria, Outlying Islands, Midsummer (a play with songs), Dunsinane, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart
4 Globalization
The Speculator, The Cosmonaut's Last Message, San Diego, Pyrenees
5 East/West
The American Pilot, Damascus, The Miniskirts of Kabul, Ramallah, Not About Pomegranates
6 Perspectives
David Greig in conversation
Marilena Zaroulia (University of Winchester) 'Geographies of the Imagination' in David Greig's Theatre: Mobility, Globalization and European Identities
David Pattie (University of Chester) 'Who's Scotland?': David Greig, Identity, and Scottish Nationhood
Directors' cuts:
Philip Howard (formerly Traverse Theatre, University of Glasgow)
Wils Wilson (National Theatre of Scotland)
Guy Hollands (formerly TAG and the Citizens Theatre)
Vicky Featherstone (formerly National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Court Theatre)
Conclusion
Resources
Chronology
Further reading
Bibliography
Notes
Index
Notes on Contributors