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.
1. Introductory and Personal 2. The Shortcomings of the Old Theatre 3. The Audience beyond Caucasus 4. "In the Steppes of Central Asia" 5. The Arctic Circle and Other Backward Audiences 6. Special Audiences 7. New Socialist Audiences 8. The Central Theatres: Left-Wing 9. The Central Theatres: Old Friends and New Developments 10. Alexey Popov 11. Other New Men 12. New Writers and New Plays 13. A New Attitude to the Classics 14. Shakespeare on the Soviet Stage Appendix I. The New Building of the Central Theatre of the Red Army, Moscow II. The Debt of the National Republics to Stalin Sources Index
Biography
Joseph Macleod
