Women’s Amateur Theatre in Rural Britain, 1919–1945

Women's Amateur Theatre in Rural Britain is the first book-length study of the National Federation of Women's Institutes amateur drama groups, which served as an umbrella organization for women's amateur drama in rural England, Wales, and Scotland. It challenges gender-based assumptions about the value of women's amateur theatre and highlights the need for leisure opportunities and social connections in rural villages. The research covers the activities, lives, and labor of women in rural regions, assessing the rapid expansion of women's amateur drama groups in conjunction with major developments of the period, such as post-1918 reconstruction efforts, the revaluation of informal adult education schemes, laws influencing and restricting amateur performances, and the impact of the Second World War on the ability of the Women's Institutes to carve out a space for all-women's drama groups.

Format: Hardback
Length: 238 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Women's Amateur Theatre in Rural Britain is a groundbreaking book-length study that delves into the captivating world of the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) amateur drama groups. These groups served as a vibrant umbrella organization for women's amateur drama, fostering a community of performers and enthusiasts across rural England, Wales, and Scotland. This comprehensive work fills a significant historical gap by shedding light on the lives, activities, and labor of women in these regions during a transformative period. It challenges prevailing gender-based assumptions about the value of women's amateur theatre, emphasizing the importance of leisure opportunities and social connections in rural villages. The study also assesses the remarkable expansion of women's amateur drama groups in tandem with major developments of the time. These include the impact of post-1918 reconstruction efforts in rural regions, the reevaluation of informal adult education schemes, the laws and restrictions governing amateur performances, and the profound effects of the Second World War on the ability of the NFWI to carve out a space for all-women's drama groups. This research offers a rich tapestry of insights that will captivate undergraduates, postgraduates, scholars, and non-specialists alike, with a particular interest in cultural history and the lives of rural women after the First World War.

Weight: 620g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032291291