Good Nights Out: A History of Popular British Theatre Since the Second World War

The West End of London has been a global success story, staging phenomenal hit shows that have delighted millions of spectators and generated billions of pounds in revenue. In "Good Nights Out," Aleks Sierz provides a thematic survey of such popular theatre shows that were enormous commercial successes over the past 75 years. He argues that these outstanding hits have a lot to say about the collective cultural, social, and political attitudes and aspirations of the country, and about how our national identity has evolved over the decades. The book spans a range of work from almost forgotten plays to well-known mega-hits, such as "The Mousetrap" and "The Phantom of the Opera." Sierz demonstrates that genres such as the British musical, light comedy, sex farce, or murder mystery are worth appreciating not only for their intrinsic theatrical qualities but also as examples of the dream life of the British people. The analysis of such shows also points towards the possibility of creating an alternative history of postwar British theatre.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 28 January 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

London's West End is a remarkable global success story, hosting phenomenal hit shows that have thrilled millions of spectators and generated billions of pounds in revenue. In his book "Good Nights Out," Aleks Sierz offers a thematic exploration of these immensely popular theatre productions that have achieved commercial triumphs over the past 75 years. Sierz argues that these outstanding hits hold profound insights into the collective cultural, social, and political attitudes and aspirations of the country, as well as the evolution of our national identity and the role of theatres in shaping it.

The book spans a diverse range of works, from nearly forgotten plays like R. F. Delderfield's "Worms Eye View" and Hugh Hastings's "Seagulls Over Sorrento" to well-known mega-hits like "The Mousetrap" and "The Phantom of the Opera." While some critics and commentators have undervalued these popular works, Sierz demonstrates that genres such as the British musical, light comedy, sex farce, or murder mystery are worthy of appreciation not only for their theatrical qualities but also as glimpses into the dream life of the British people.

"Good Nights Out" challenges the notion that mega-hits are mere escapist entertainments and instead reveals their role in creating powerful myths about our national life. The analysis of such shows also points towards the possibility of crafting an alternative history of postwar British theatre.

In conclusion, "Good Nights Out" is a captivating and insightful exploration of the remarkable success story of London's West End, offering valuable insights into the cultural, social, and political dimensions of popular theatre productions. Through its examination of these hit shows, Sierz challenges our perceptions and encourages us to appreciate the diverse and dynamic contributions of British theatre to our national identity.

Weight: 388g
Dimension: 233 x 157 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350200913