John Mc Grath’s Socialist Theatre: An Analysis of the Cheviot, the Stag, and the Black, Black Oil

Authors

  • Sibgatuullah Nazki University of Kashmir

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55927/melas.v1i2.12508

Keywords:

Capitalism, Cultural heritage, Exploitation, Socialism, Commitment, Revolutin

Abstract

This study examines John McGrath as a pioneering figure in British socialist theatre, renowned for using drama to critique social and political issues. McGrath sought to provoke thought and action against inequalities by addressing the struggles of marginalized populations. This paper focuses on his seminal work, The Cheviot, the Stag, and the Black, Black Oil (1973), which is pivotal in socially committed theatre. The play vividly portrays Scottish history, intertwining historical narrative with political analysis to explore economic and social inequalities. It highlights McGrath’s influence on contemporary theatre through his innovative approach and socialist stance. The paper delves into the thematic concerns and narrative structure of the play, emphasizing its impact on discussions of class, power, and identity, and its enduring relevance in modern theatre

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References

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McGrath, John. The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil. (London: Methuen, 1981).

Milne, Drew (2002). Cheerful History: the Political Theatre of John McGrath. New Theatre Quarterly, 18, pp 313-324 Doi: 10.1017/S0266464X02000428

Nelson, Robin. “The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil: Political Theatre and the Case against Television Naturalism”. International Journal of Scottish Theatre. , 3. No2, p. 1-15. 2002. Consulted 15 February 2024.

Patterson, Michael. Agit-prop revisited: The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil (1973) Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 September 2009 p, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511486197.009. In M. Patterson, Strategies of Political Theatre. 2003: 109-124.

Rabellato, Dan. 1956 and All That: The Making of Modern British Drama. London and New York: Routledge, 1999: 161.

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URL: http://journals.qmu.ac.uk/index.php/IJoST/artide/ view/97/html.

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Published

2024-12-03

How to Cite

Nazki, S. (2024). John Mc Grath’s Socialist Theatre: An Analysis of the Cheviot, the Stag, and the Black, Black Oil . Melas Journal of Education, 1(2), 129–140. https://doi.org/10.55927/melas.v1i2.12508