The playbook

James Shapiro

£20.00

In stock

1935. Franklin D. Roosevelt is under pressure to combat the skyrocketing levels of unemployment in post-war America. He announces a sweeping range of revolutionary initiatives, known collectively as the New Deal. Among these initiatives is a landmark programme designed to bring innovative, experimental theatre to the American masses. The Federal Theatre Project staged critically acclaimed and wildly popular productions across America – including Orson Welles’ directorial debut, a landmark early modern dance programme, and shows that sought to tell the truth about racism, poverty and the rising tides of fascism. From one of the world’s great storytellers, ‘Playbook’ is an invigorating re-enactment of a terrifyingly prescient moment in 20th-century American cultural history, the dimensions of which echo through every democracy today.

ISBN: 9780571372768 Category:

Description

From the ‘Winner of Winners’ of the Baillie Gifford Prize, a timely and dramatic story of a utopian American experiment, and the self-serving politicians that engineered its downfall.

1935. As part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s progressive New Deal, the Work Progress Administration is created to support unemployed workers, including writers, artists, musicians and actors. The Federal Theatre Project, a major part of that programme, begins to stage critically acclaimed, subsidised and groundbreaking productions across America, including Orson Welles’s directorial debut, a landmark modern dance programme and shows that sought to tell the truth about racism, inequality and the dangers of fascism.

1938. An opportunistic Texas congressman, Martin Dies, head of the newly formed House Un-American Activities Committee, successfully targets the Federal Theatre, exploiting rising tensions over communism and creating a new political playbook based on sensationalism, misinformation and fear – a playbook that has proved instrumental in our current culture wars.
From one of the world’s great storytellers, The Playbook is an invigorating re-enactment of a terrifyingly prescient moment in twentieth-century American cultural history.

Additional information

Dimensions 23.4 × 15.3 cm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Hardback

Pages

272

Language

English

Edition
Dewey

792.0973 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K

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