This document studies and chronicles a tradition of popular theatre which began with Jacques Copeau at the Vieux Columbier, and was continued by his nephew Michel St. Denis at the London Theatre Studio and Old Vic Theatre Centre (comprising the Old Vic School, the Young Vic company and the proposed experimental New Vic). This tradition has its clearest modern evocation in Frank Dunlop's Young Vic, opened in 1970. / The first part of the dissertation is a study of Copeau's tradition and aesthetics. The history and evolution of Copeau's work is detailed. The document then picks up the work of St. Denis, who had worked with his uncle in France, as he relocates in England and founds first the London Theatre Studio and (with George Devine and Glen Byam Shaw) the Old Vic Theatre Centre. The history of the Centre is elucidated and its teaching and production methodologies explored. Finally, the collapse of the Centre and resignation of the directors in the early 1950's is chronicled. Throughout, the document stresses the importance and effect of the techniques and outlook espoused by St. Denis. This section was researched with the assistance of much uncatalogued material from the Old Vic archives. / The second half of the document is a history and examination of the Young Vic Theatre under Frank Dunlop. Areas explored include Dunlop's professional background and early affiliation as a student with St. Denis, his preferred production style, the intent and certain alterations of intent of the Young Vic company and the company's success in reaching both their designated young and disaffected audience and a much broader public. Much material in this section is derived from in-person interviews with administrators, directors and performers. The conclusion compares the two entities, their effect and the possible future of the tradition. The importance of St. Denis' school as a mechanism for dissemination is reemphasized, and the history of this approach is once again outlined. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 41-07, Section: A, page: 2834. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1980.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74212 |
| Contributors | ROMAGNOLI, RICHARD V., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 232 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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