18 January 1960: Arnold Wesker talks approximately his quest to bring theatre to a wider audienceThe real tragedy of the English theatre is that it means nothing to most people,for all attempts so far to establish a truly people’s theatre in England have failed. Occasionally a company will try to get through to the theatreless millions – Theatre Workshop is a notable example – but there has not been any real breakthrough. The theatre is not yet a real part of English life.[br]Arnold Wesker, who has to his credit the most solid achievements of the younger dramatists, or thinks the trade unions and the Labour party are at least partly to blame. With their unique contacts,they could have organised the breakthrough. Wesker wonders whether it is too late to persuade them to conclude it. He is going to try by appealing to all the unions to befriend to assign on plays, to build theatres and produce films, and but above all to befriend artists to build contact with people who have so far been out of reach.
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Source: theguardian.com