ABSTRACT

First Published in 1943, The New Soviet Theatre presents Joseph Macleod’s take on the development and rapid changes in the Soviet Theatre since late 1930s. Through scattered articles and reports, books and bulletins, and his own visits to the USSR, Macleod showcases what we know as ‘Socialist Realism’. He brings themes like the shortcomings of the old theatre; the audience beyond the Caucasus; new socialist audiences; Alexey Popov of the Central Theatre of the Red Army; new writers and new plays; and popularity of Shakespeare both in the central theatres and in remoter and unexpected places. Written graphically but founded on scholarship this book will be an essential read for scholars and researchers of history of theatre, European theatre, theatre and performance studies.

chapter Chapter I|3 pages

Introductory and Personal

chapter Chapter II|12 pages

The Shortcomings of the Old Theatre

chapter Chapter III|14 pages

The Audience beyond the Caucasus

chapter Chapter IV|17 pages

“In the Steppes of Central Asia”

chapter Chapter V|11 pages

The Arctic Circle and Other Backward Audiences

chapter Chapter VI|21 pages

Special Audiences

chapter Chapter VII|7 pages

New Socialist Audiences

chapter Chapter VIII|14 pages

The Central Theatres: Left-wing

chapter Chapter IX|19 pages

The Central Theatres: Old Friends and New Developments

chapter Chapter X|24 pages

Alexey Popov

chapter Chapter XI|19 pages

Other New Men

chapter Chapter XII|28 pages

New Writers and New Plays

chapter Chapter XIII|12 pages

A New Attitude to the Classics

chapter Chapter XIV|11 pages

Shakespeare on the Soviet Stage