Spaces to play/playing with spaces: young people, citizenship and Joan Littlewood

Abstract

Joan Littlewood is best known for offering re-vitalised textual and visual interpretations of classic plays and for her work with new writers, animating representations of working-class life during the 1950s and early 1960s. This picture of Littlewood's contribution to British theatre has cemented her reputation as one of the foremost directors of her generation, but it is only a partial picture of her cultural innovation. As her engagement in ‘traditional’ theatre waned during the 1960s, Littlewood increasingly directed her energies towards local projects that emphasised cultural democracy, active citizenship and the creative animation of community-based activity and spaces. In particular, during a period of extensive redevelopment around the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, she transformed discarded spaces and waste ground through temporary structures, playgrounds, mini inner-city farms, painting and planting schemes. These activities promoted the importance of children's access to and participation in cultural activity, social encounter and creative play. This article considers the social, cultural and ethical concerns that galvanised these projects. It also examines how Littlewood encouraged young people to interact within the public realm and take responsibility with adults for the creative animation of spaces and what this might mean for the often undervalued nature of children's citizenship.

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