Research Into Joan Littlewood

Theatre Practitioner
Joan Maud Littlewood, was born out of wedlock on October 6th 1914 in Stockwell,
South London. Her mother was not fond of books, but Joan’s grandmother (who
raised her) was an avid story teller. So by the time Littlewood was out enough to
read, she would and she would do it by candlelight, underneath her bedding.
Something Littlewood liked to recall, was that of her relatives
had rented property to Charlie Chaplin's family, in Lambeth.
And it was said, that from an early age, Littlewood had this
Chaplin-esque jauntiness about her.
Charlie Chaplin
Littlewood’s first experiences on stage were comedic parts.
After one of these performances, it was said that she was
approached by one of the comic scouts of comedian Stan
Laurel.
Stan Laurel
When she was young, she went to the Old Vic to
see a play – an early version John Gielgud’s
Macbeth. Littlewood had criticized it, calling it a
disappointment. Littlewood then went on the
produce her own version of the play at her school.
The showed an interest early on, of Littlewood’s

passion for a change in theatre.
Littlewood then went on to win a scholarship to RADA.
But whilst there she found herself mixed in with the
privileged, and that was a world she didn’t much care
for. So she made the dicition to leave, instead setting
off for Liverpool, with hopes of going from there to
America. But ultimately ended up in Manchester, in
1934. Whilst there, she met Jimmie Miller, later known
as Ewan MacColl.
Singer-songwriter
Ewan MacColl
Joan Littlewood wanted to make the theatre
accessible and for people of all
backgrounds and social standings to enjoy.
Littlewood and MacColl together developed Theatre Workshop. An ensemble
company, that was unfunded, that became a centre for provocative playwriting in
action against traditional classical theatre, to take on themes of hard-hitting stories
about the working-classes. She also believed that plays should react to social,
history and political changes.
One play in particular was seized by authorities for breeching peace. That play was
called ‘The Last Edition’.
Littlewood formed Theatre Workshop in 1945, and spent the
eight years following touring. Theatre Workshop focused on
movement, voice and improvisation. At the time this was a
radical idea to prioritise the physicality of theatre above the
dialogue. But this technique ended up influenced many
famous 20th century playwrights.
The Theatre Workshop then found a more permanent placement in Stratford, East
London in 1953. And from there it went on the gain international praise.
Littlewood then put her attention on more
classic pieces, such as William
Shakespeare and Ben Jonson. Her
approach to these classics however,
weren’t overly successful, she started to
gain a cult following.
In 1963, Littlewood focused her engery on
Theatre Workshop to create an inventive,
satire musical, showcasing the injustices of
the First World War, which was called, ‘Oh
What a Lovely War!’. This performance
gained her international recognition, and
was even turned into a film in 1969 – which
Littlewood famously disliked.
Littlewood directed and produced some of the most breakthrough voices of the time.
The play follows teenager Jo, who lives with her single
mother Helen, who is an achaholic with ‘a good time girl’ SHELAGH
attitude.
DELANEY’S A
The play starts with the pair moving into a run down flat.
Jo wishes to become an artist, but constantly moving made
TASTE OF HONEY
it impossible for her take on serious studies.
The conflict between the mother and daughter then
intensifies when Helen’s younger boyfriend Peter arrives
with an offer of marriage, and Jo’s boyfriend, a young
sailor, also arrives with an offer of marriage, even though
he’s soon to go away at sea for six months.
Jo and Helen’s relationship is messy, but there is affection
there.
The play was first performed on the 27th of May 1958 in

London.
Here are some of Joan Littlewood’s
notes on ‘A Taste Of Honey’ to
document the music in The Workshop’s
stage production of the play.
© Joan Littlewood Estate.
British Library
[Add MS 89164/5/29]
The Hostage is a tragedy that tells the story of Leslie, a
young English soldier who is being held captive in a
boarding house in Dublin – that’s frequented by whores, BRENDAN
sailors, policemen and the IRA (Provisional Irish
Republican Army).
BEHAN’S THE
HOSTAGE
But a romance forms between Leslie and a country girl
who comes to stay.
The play was first produced by Joan Littlewood’s

Theatre Workshop, and was first performed at Theatre
Royale, Stratford, London on the 14th October 1958
Copyright:
J.B. Hanley / Paul Popper / Popperfoto / Getty
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Here are some rehearsal photos from

The Hostage.
This photo in particular depicts Joan

Littlewood directing the cast during
one of their rehearsals.
This is a play created by visionary director, Joan
Littlewood, and was inspired by a radio series
combined statistics from the First World War using them
as lyrics with songs from the time, by Charles Chilton.
Littlewood collaborated with Gerry Raffles to adapts

Chilton’s work into a stage performance.
The musical premiered in March 1963, at Theatre Royal,

Stratford East.
Here is an exert of the script with notes from
Joan Littlewood.
© Joan Littlewood Estate
British Library
[Add MS 89164/8/60]
In her career, Littlewood also collaborated with Harry Corbett, Victor Spinetti, Lionel
Bart and later on Barbara Windsor.
Harry Corbett Victor Spinetti Lionel Bart Barbara Windsor

With help from architect Cedric Price,
Littlewood had the idea for the ‘Fun Palace’ 1961,
a radical part of London’s West End, where
people could gather ‘round to celebrate the arts.
However, they would be left devastated with
after issues with funding and land.
But in 2014, theatremaker and writer, Stella Duffy, called for a
session at Devoted and Disgruntled asking for support to
bring Littlewood and Price’s vision to life, and to create local
Fun Palaces across the UK. The response to this was huge, and
Stella Duffy ended up co-founding the Fun Palaces Campaign
with producer Sarah-Jane Rawlings.
The Fun Palaces Campaign is still ongoing. Since then there’s

been an annual weekend of celebration promoting the
campaign, and Littlewood’s words, ‘I really do believe in the
genius in every person. And I’ve heard that greatness come
out of them, that great thing which is in people. And that’s not
romanticism, d’you see.’
Joan Littlewood passed away at the age of 87 in 2002.
She was an incredibly accomplished producer and writer, who envisioned innovative
forgotten stories of the working-class.
And I conclude my research with a quote that particularly stuck out to me that really
highlights the genius of this director, producer and theatre practitioner.
“Choose what you want to do – or watch someone else doing it. Learn how to handle
tools, paint, babies, machinery, or just listen to your favourite tune. Dance, talk or be
lifted up to where you can see how other people make things work. Sit out over space
with a drink and tune in to what's happening elsewhere in the city. Try starting a riot or
beginning a painting – or just lie back and stare at the sky.” - Joan Littlewood
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2023) Joan Littlewood, Britannica, available
at:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joan-Littlewood
(Accessed: 04/10/23)
(2023) Who Was Joan Littlewood?, RSC, available at:

https://www.rsc.org.uk/miss-littlewood/joan-littlewood-rebel-with-a-cause
A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney, British Library, available at:
https://www.bl.uk/works/a-taste-of-honey
(Accessed: 06//10/23)
Notes made by Joan Littlewood about the music in A Taste of Honey, British Library,
available at:
https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/notes-made-by-joan-littlewood-about-the-
music-in-a-taste-of-honey
The Hostage, PlayographyIreland, available at:

https://www.irishplayography.com/play.aspx?playid=31510
Photograph of rehearsals of Theatre Workshop’s production of The Hostage, British
Library, available at:
https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/photograph-of-rehearsals-of-theatre-workshops-
production-of-the-hostage
Oh What a Lovely War, British Library, available at:

https://www.bl.uk/works/oh-what-a-lovely-war
Ezard, J. Billington, M. (2002) Joan Littlewood, The Guardian, available at:

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/sep/23/guardianobituaries.arts
Joan Littlewood quotes, azquotes, available at:
https://www.azquotes.com/author/43384-Joan_Littlewood

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Theatre Practitioner

The showed an interest early on, of Littlewood’s

The play was first performed on the 27th of May 1958 in

© Joan Littlewood Estate.

The play was first produced by Joan Littlewood’s

Here are some rehearsal photos from

This photo in particular depicts Joan

Littlewood collaborated with Gerry Raffles to adapts

The musical premiered in March 1963, at Theatre Royal,

© Joan Littlewood Estate

Harry Corbett Victor Spinetti Lionel Bart Barbara Windsor

The Fun Palaces Campaign is still ongoing. Since then there’s

(2023) Who Was Joan Littlewood?, RSC, available at:

The Hostage, PlayographyIreland, available at:

Oh What a Lovely War, British Library, available at:

Ezard, J. Billington, M. (2002) Joan Littlewood, The Guardian, available at:

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