”Theatre should be free, like air or love”. Joan Littlewood and the imperative of collective creation

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the theatrical practices that define the work of one of the most influential voices in 20th century theatre. The practices and methods developed by Joan Littlewood over four decades of work outline a highly personal, inventive and dynamic aesthetic in which the emphasis is on creating cohesion within the team. The team is seen as a ”composite mind”, an ensemble that through rigorous physical and vocal training, complex theme documentation and improvisation, comes to function organically and is able to explore more freely and intensely. The use of a wide variety of means and formulas - music hall, commedia dell'arte, clowning, mime, but also elaborate lighting, cinematic projections, sound effects - and the involvement of the audience in the scenic approach are also defining elements of the theatre promoted by Joan Littlewood.