The Search for Epic Drama: Edward Bond's Recent Work

Abstract

In our recent study of Edward Bond's works for the stage, we noted in the Preface: “Given that Bond is a developing writer, this book is hardly the last word. ” Since writing The Bundle (July-October 1977), Bond has completed Orpheus, “a story in six scenes,” which, with music by Hans Werner Henze and choreography by William Forsythe, was performed by the Stuttgart Ballet Company in March 1979. Orpheus was written between December 1977 and February 1978. After Orpheus came a full-length play , The Worlds, written during Bond's tenure of the Northern Arts Literary Fellowship in the universities of Durham and Newcastle, and first performed in March 1979 by a cast of students at the Newcastle Playhouse. The Worlds was subsequently performed by the Royal Court Theatre's Activists Youth Theatre Club at the Theatre Upstairs in November 1979 and received its first professional production at the New Half Moon Theatre, London in June 1981. Published with The Worlds was an important group of theoretical writings, developed over two years, and titled The Activists Papers (see note 13 below). A libretto, The English Cat, followed The Worlds . It was written between March and May 1979 with music again by Henze and, after a series of postponements, is to receive its premiere at Schwetzingen in May 1983. Two more full-length plays followed. Restoration: A Pastoral, written between July 1979 and October 1980, received its first performance at the Royal Court in July 1981. Summer: A European Play goes into rehearsal in December 1981 for production in January 1982 in the Cottesloe auditorium of the National Theatre. In note form in April 1980, Summer was completed in January 1981. As I write, another play, “The Human Cannon,” the first notes for which are dated July 1979, is in progress. The catalogue above illustrates both a remarkably steady output of work and emphasises the truth of my opening sentence, for in these works , Bond has developed the theoretical and practical range of his work to a remarkable degree.