{"product_id":"satire","title":"Satire","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSatire \u003c\/i\u003ereconsiders the entertainment, political dissent and comic social commentary created by innovative writers and directors since this theatrical form took the stage in ancient Athens. From Aristophanes to the 18th-century plays of John Gay and Henry Fielding, to the creations of Joan Littlewood, Bertolt Brecht, Vsevolod Meyerhold, Erika Mann, Brendan Behan and Dario Fo, practitioners of theatrical satire have prompted audiences to laugh at corruption, greed, injustice and abusive authority.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the theatre these artists jested at prominent citizens, scandals and fashions. In retrospect it can be seen that their topical references, allegories and impersonations also promoted intervention in public discourse and events outside the theatre, as satire extended its reach beyond the stage into society.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSatire \u003c\/i\u003efocuses on three exemplary satiric plays: \u003ci\u003eThe Knights \u003c\/i\u003eby Aristophanes, \u003ci\u003eThe Beggar’s Opera \u003c\/i\u003eby John Gay and \u003ci\u003eThe Hostage \u003c\/i\u003eby Brendan Behan under Joan Littlewood’s direction. Detailed discussion of these three innovative works reveals both changes and continuities in stage satire over the course of its long, hilarious history. The survey concludes with a discussion of stage satire as an endangered art in need of preservation by actors, directors and theatre historians.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MediaPlace","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57317042094462,"sku":"NW9781350140080","price":47.1,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1379\/1261\/files\/9781350140080.jpg?v=1778598972","url":"https:\/\/mediaplace.com\/products\/satire","provider":"MediaPlace","version":"1.0","type":"link"}