Person    | Female  Born 6/10/1914  Died 20/9/2002

Joan Littlewood

Categories: Theatre

Countries: France

Theatre director. Born Stockwell. 1945 set up the Theatre Workshop which moved into the Stratford Theatre Royal in 1953, many of the company living on site while it was being restored. 1963 created the stage production "Oh, What a Lovely War!" which was recreated as a film, as was her 1958 "A Taste of Honey". In 1965 she directed Twang!! which is remembered as "the most expensive flop" in West End history up to that time, though she did manage to resign before it opened.

Married to Ewan MacColl, 1934-1950, and then had a relationship with Gerry Raffles until his death in 1975. After that she worked in France for a time. Died in the London flat of Peter Rankin, a friend and co-worker for 40 years.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Joan Littlewood

Commemorated ati

East 15 Acting School

Margaret Walker (1922 - 2013) founder of East 15 Acting School and Theatre Wo...

Read More

Joan Littlewood - Stratford plaque

Joan Littlewood, 1914 - 2002, theatre director. The sculpture by Philip Jacks...

Read More

Joan Littlewood - Stratford statue

This bronze statue, called The Mother of Modern Theatre, is based on an iconi...

Read More

Other Subjects

Murder in the Cathedral - London premiere

Murder in the Cathedral - London premiere

This verse play by TS Eliot concerning the murder of Becket, had its London premiere at The Duchess Theatre in 1936.

Event, Theatre

1 memorial
Golders Green Hippodrome

Golders Green Hippodrome

Former theatre. Built by Bertie Crewe as a 3,000 seat music hall. It became famous as a venue for travelling shows before and after their West End appearances, featuring some of the biggest names o...

Building, Theatre

1 memorial
Victoria Palace Theatre

Victoria Palace Theatre

The first theatre on this site was built in 1832. The current one, designed by Frank Matcham, was erected in 1910. Our Picture source link no longer works and the current history page for the Vict...

Building, Theatre

2 memorials
Austin Rudd

Austin Rudd

Music hall singer and comedian. Born Arthur Rudd in London. In his day he was extremely popular and he toured throughout the world, but is now largely forgotten. His act was described as being 'qua...

Person, Music / songs, Theatre

1 memorial
Michael Sheen

Michael Sheen

Actor. Born Michael Christopher Sheen in Newport, Wales. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he made his stage debut in 1991 playing opposite Vanessa Redgrave in 'When She Danced'....

Person, Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio, Wales

1 memorial