In support of the fourth wall: proscenium arch theatre’s surprisingly radical history
Dominic Dromgoole’s new book, Time Frames, shows how this format’s stuffy reputation belies the room it has made for daring experiments from Chekhov to Brecht and beyond
TL;DR
- Dominic Dromgoole's book 'Time Frames' covers the proscenium arch theatre era from 1865 to 1965.
- The proscenium form is described as "liberatingly restrictive," similar to sonnets or blues music.
- This era saw the emergence of works by Chekhov, Brecht, Joan Littlewood, and plays at the Royal Court.
- Between the wars, 21% of West End plays were written by women, a ratio better than in later times.
- The book re-examines writers like Clemence Dane, Dodie Smith, Daphne du Maurier, and Alice Childress.
- Dromgoole challenges the perception of Ibsen as lacking humor, suggesting his plays contain comic irony.
- The author advocates for the essential role of the writer in theatre, noting a lack of texture in devised texts.
- The book draws on Dromgoole's experience as a director and his passion for playwrights.