Journal of the Plague Year

Theatre's Response to Crisis and Community

How plays reflect and reshape society in turbulent times

About the Ebook

A truthful, personal and insightful exploration of the state of arts funding and carrying on in the face of adversity, by the renowned founder of Out of Joint.

One March morning, out of the blue, Max Stafford-Clark learned that the Arts Council had drastically cut their grant to his theatre company, Out of Joint, leaving it in danger of imminent collapse. Journal of the Plague Year is his account of what happened next, as he sets out to contest the cut, make the case for public funding of the arts, and continue producing the work for which he and his company are renowned.

Max's journal often takes on an autobiographical flavour, including the unexpectedly moving story of his two fathers, his surreal encounter with the New York theatre world, and the shocking details of what it is to suffer a massively debilitating stroke.

By turns funny, alarming and deeply personal, Journal of the Plague Year offers a fascinating exposé of the often Kafkaesque workings of arts subsidy in England, and the financial and artistic manoeuvrings which are a fact of life for every arts organisation today. It is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the state of our arts, from students to theatregoers, and from struggling arts workers right up to the Secretary of State for Culture.

Why You'll Love This Ebook

• Explore theatre's unique power to respond to real-world crises
• Learn how contemporary drama captures collective experience and resilience
• Understand the social impact of playwriting in times of change
• Discover how Nick Hern Books champions plays that matter to modern audiences

About the Author

Max Stafford-Clark is one of the UK's most influential theatre directors. He established Joint Stock in 1974, ran the Royal Court Theatre from 1979 to 1993, and then set up the extremely successful touring theatre company, Out of Joint, premiering plays from leading writers including April De Angelis, Sebastian Barry, Richard Bean, Alistair Beaton, Caryl Churchill, David Edgar, David Hare, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Robin Soans and Timberlake Wertenbaker. He remained Out of Joint's Artistic Director until 2017.

Publication Details

ISBN (EPUB): 9781780013022
Publication Date: 06 March 2014
Pages: 192
Format: Ebook (EPUB)
Publisher: Nick Hern Books

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