Skip to main content
Joan Littlewood, doyen of working-class theatre
Peter Frost celebrates the centenary of the founding mother of working-class theatre in Britain

Joan Littlewood, who was born 100 years ago this weekend, changed the face of British theatre forever.

Her great loves — agitprop, political and community theatre, speaking out in working-class language — have passed into mainstream culture both on stage and screen.

Littlewood, who died in 2002 aged 87, devoted her whole life to community theatre.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
cyrano
Theatre review / 8 October 2025
8 October 2025

GORDON PARSONS is blown away by a superb production of Rostand’s comedy of verbal panache and swordmanship

tosca
Opera review / 17 September 2025
17 September 2025

DAVID NICHOLSON is thrilled – and shocked – by an opera that seethes and sizzles with passion and the depraved use of power

IN THE BEGINING: Carnival band photo taken by Dr Ted Hill, in Port of Spain in the early 1950s and made available in public domain by his son John Hill
Features / 23 August 2025
23 August 2025

DAVID HORSLEY reminds us of the roots and staying power of one of the most iconic festivals around

stars
Theatre review / 14 July 2025
14 July 2025

MARY CONWAY applauds the success of Beth Steel’s bitter-sweet state-of-the-nation play