Joint Stock Theatre Company
The Joint Stock Theatre Company was founded in London 1974 by David Hare, Max Stafford-Clark Paul Kember and David Aukin. The director William Gaskill was also part of the company. It was primarily a company which presented new plays.
Joint Stock created a style of working with writers using company research to inspire workshops. From these workshops writers such as David Hare, Howard Brenton and Caryl Churchill would gather material to inspire a writing phase before rehearsals began. This methodology is sometimes referred to as The Joint Stock Method. Significant productions include Hare's Fanshen, Brenton's Epsom Downs, Stephen Lowe's Ragged Trousered Philanthropists and Churchill's Cloud Nine.
The company ceased to be active in 1989. In 1993 Max Stafford-Clark founded the touring company Out of Joint which shares some working practices with Joint Stock.
Productions
| production | writer | venue | date |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Speakers | adapted by the company from Heathcote Williams 'the speaker' | Birmingham Repertory Studio and tour | 1974 |
| Shivvers | by Stanley Eveling | Traverse Theatre and Theatre Upstairs | 1974 |
| X | by Barry Reckord | Theatre Upstairs and Royal Court | 1974 |
| Fourth Day Like Four
Long Months of Absence |
by Colin Bennett | Traverse Theatre and Theatre Upstairs | 1974 |
| Doomduckers Ball | a company adaptation based on
an idea by Neil Johnston |
Oval House and Theatre Upstairs | 1975 |
| Fanshen | by David Hare, adapted from
William Hinton |
Crucible Studio Theatre and Sheffield | 1975 |
| Yesterday’s News | Company devised | West End Centre and Theatre Upstairs | 1976 |
| Light Shining in
Buckinghamshire |
Caryl Churchill | Traverse Theatre and Theatre Upstairs | 1976 |
| The Speakers (revival) | adapted by the company from Heathcote Williams 'the speaker' | International tour | 1976 |
| Devil’s Island | Tony Bicât | Sherman Theatre and Royal Court | 1977 |
| A Thought in Three Parts | Wallace Shawn | ICA | 1977 |
| A Mad World, My Masters | Barrie Keeffe | Young Vic and Roundhouse | 1977 |
| Epsom Downs | Howard Brenton | Roundhouse | 1977 |
| The Glad Hand | Snoo Wilson | Royal Court Theatre | 1978 |
| The Ragged Trousered
Philanthropists |
Stephen Lowe, based on the book by Robert Tressell | Plymouth Arts Centre and Riverside Studios | 1978 |
| Cloud Nine | Caryl Churchill | Dartington College of the Arts | 1979 |
| The House | David Halliwell | Dartington Hall | 1979 |
| An Optimistic Thrust | Company devised | Nuffield Studio Theatre | 1980 |
| Cloud Nine (revival) | Caryl Churchill | Royal Court | 1980 |
| Say Your Prayers | Nick Darke | College of St. Mark and St. John | 1981 |
| Borderline | Hanif Kureishi | Jackson’s Lane Community Centre and Royal Court Theatre | 1981 |
References
- "Joint Stock – Unfinished Histories". www.unfinishedhistories.com. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
- Ritchie, R. (ed.) (1987), The Joint Stock Book: Making of a Theatre Collective, London: Methuen, ISBN 0-413-41030-7
- Stafford-Clark, M., and P. Roberts (2007), Taking Stock: The Theatre of Max Stafford-Clark, London: Nick Hern Books, ISBN 1-85459-840-6
- Baz Kershaw, "Building an unstable pyramid - the fragmentation of British alternative theatre", in New Theatre Quarterly, Volume XI, no. 36, November 1993; pp. 348-356.
External reference
- The Joint Stock Theatre Company on The Literary Encyclopedia
- Joint Stock Theatre Group Archives at Special Collections Dept., University Library, University of California, Davis