The generation game: The rise of the large-scale family ‘epic’ and its role within publicly funded theatre in Britain

Abstract

ABSTRACTSpearheaded by successes like War Horse and Matilda the Musical, large-scale family productions have made a phenomenal impact on British theatre in recent years. Distinguishing the family ‘epic’ from pantomime and the commercial musical, this article explores its current popularity and significance, focusing on developments since the Boyden Report of 2000 which opened the way for the current boom in the form. It contextualizes the rise of the family epic by tracing its history from Peter Pan through the early days of regional repertory and the growth of publicly funded theatre in the United Kingdom. Comparing the output of the major national companies and the regions, it goes on to show how the family epic has become an integral component of the twenty-first century producing playhouse, an inclusive form of theatre reflecting contemporary cultural values, with a family-orientated philosophy linked to Blairite social mores.