A Sourcebook on Naturalist Theatre

Naturalism is one of the key movements in modern theatre, forming the basis for mainstream plays throughout the modern period and dominating theatrical form today. Christopher Innes begins by giving a fascinating overview of naturalist theatre on themes such as the representation of women, significant contemporary issues and the links between theory, play writing and stage practice. The author explores the many aspects of naturalism, citing information on the playwright's intentions when writing the plays, contemporary reviews, political and social background and production notes from early performances of the plays. The playwrights and their plays are: Henrik Ibsen-"A Doll's House" and "Hedda Gabler," Anton Chekhov-"The Seagull" and "The Cherry Orchard," and George Bernard Shaw-"Mrs. Warren's Profession" and "Heartbreak House,"

A Sourcebook on Naturalist Theatre provides essential primary sources which document one of the key movements in modern theatre. Christopher Innes has selected three writers to exemplify the movement, and six plays in particular: * Henrik Ibsen - A Dolls House and Hedda Gabler * Anton Chekhov - The Seagull and The Cherry Orchard * George Bernard Shaw - Mrs Warren's Profession and Heartbreak House. Innes' introduction provides an overview of naturalist theatre. Key themes include: the representation of women, significant contemporary issues and the links between theory, play writing and stage practice. The primary sources explore many aspects of naturalism, giving information on: * the playwrights' intentions when writing plays * contemporary reviews * literary criticism * political and social background * production notes from early performances of the plays.

Introduction: Theoretical Approaches Definitions of Realism, The Historical Context, Acting and Character, Conventions and Perspectives, Key Themes, The Naturalistic Movement, Questioning The Canon 1. The Context of Naturalist Theatre: A Chronology 2. Contemporary Theories of Naturalism George Brandes and Henrik Ibsen, Emile Zola and Andre Antoine, Anton Chekov and Konstantin Stanislavsky, Bernard Shaw 3. Henrik Ibsen Social and Political Context: Documents, Ibsens Naturalistic Drama, A Dolls House: Documents, Chronology of Early Performances, Hedda Gabler: Documents, Chronology of Early Perfomances 4. Anton Chekhov Social and Political Context: Documents, Chekovs Naturalistic Drama, The Seagull: Documents, Chronology of Early Performances, The Cherry Orchard: Documents, Chronology of Early Performances 5. Bernard Shaw Social and Political Context: Documents, Shaws Naturalistic Drama, Mrs Warrens Profession: Documents, Chronology of Early Performances, Heartbreak House, Chronology of Early Performances Selected Critical Bibliography - Ibsen, Chekov, Shaw

Christopher Innes is Distinguished Research Professor at York University, Toronto. Among his recent books are Modern British Drama: 1800-1990 and Avant Garde Theatre: 1892-1992.