David Edgar: Political theatre is having a resurgence

Playwright David Edgar has noted a resurgence of political theatre, arguing that while it might not “change the world”, it can usefully scrutinise social problems.

Ahead of the debut this autumn of his new plays, Here in America and The New Real, he praised writers including James Graham and Peter Morgan for dramatising political issues, adding: “I think it’s a very rich time for political theatre.”

Speaking to the Financial Times, Edgar said: “Since the beginning of the last decade, since the 2008 crash, the Arab Spring, Occupy, the #MeToo movement and Black Lives Matter, politics has returned to the centre of life.

“Theatre has returned to what it was in the 1970s: a place where you go to see ideas expressed in a politically charged way.”

As well as commending political writing, Edgar said he admired the way contemporary theatremaking was incorporating politics into backstage and rehearsal-room practice, noting increased diversity in casting and more sustainable resources.

Political plays can help distil social issues and illustrate to audiences how complex systems work, Edgar said, adding that art can, occasionally, make a tangible difference.

“We’re talking in a year that saw probably the most directly impactful piece of television drama ever: Mr Bates vs The Post Office,” he said.

The public outrage sparked by the ITV drama – which prompted government action to remedy the wrongful prosecutions of sub-postmasters across the country – alongside the number of new plays hitting major stages are positive signs for the social impact of art, Edgar said.

“I think it’s a very rich time for political theatre,” he added.

Edgar’s latest plays, Here in America and The New Real, are set to be staged at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond and the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, respectively, with both billed as political dramas.