Theatre History Overview - Part 98 - Alternative Theatre

The general meaning of alternative theatre is any theatrical practice that is in opposition to mainstream theatrical practices. However, Alternative Theatre was also a movement in the United Kingdom that stated in the late 1960s. One of the main reasons for this was the end of theatre censorship in 1968.

Since theatres no longer had to be concerned about Lord Chamberlain censoring them, companies felt free to express anything they wanted. Theatrical content was created based on the stimulation from a wave of politial protest around the world.

A couple of the major issues addressed were feminist issues and gay issues. Copanies such as the Women's Theatre Group (which is now called the Sphinx) and Red Ladder addressed the political agenda of the feminist movement. In 1975, the company Gay Sweatshop started creating theatrical productions that specifically dealt with gay issues, rather than only having gay characters.

Many of these companies followed the example of the Traverse Theatre in London and mounted their shows in unconventional venues such as warehouses, cellars, and the back rooms of pubs. This type of theatre was known as fringe theatre.

The Alternative Theatre movement slowed down in the 1980s. This was because of subsidies to theatrical companies in the United Kingdom were cut. However, some managed to suvive and some even managed to sucessfully move into film or television.

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