Page 336 - DENG403_BRITISH_DRAMA

British Drama

Notes Jewish Renaissance magazine. Many of Wesker’s plays have underlying political themes, and Wesker
himself is open about his admiration of the working class side of the ‘class struggle’. Wesker joined
with enthusiasm the Royal Court group on the Aldermaston March in 1959. Another of the Royal
Court contingent, Lindsay Anderson, made a documentary film about the event.

Illustrate the work for which Arnold Wesker was knighted in the 2006 New year’s
Honours List.

30.1.2 Works

The Kitchen, 1957, Chicken Soup with Barley, 1958, Roots, 1958, I’m talking about Jerusalem, 1958 , Menace,
1961 (For Television) , Chips with Everything, 1962 , The Nottingham Captain, 1962, Four Seasons, 1965,
Their Very Own and Golden City, 1966, The Friends, 1970, The Old Ones, 1970, The Journalist, 1972, The
Wedding Feast, 1974, Shylock, 1976, Love Letters on Blue Paper, 1976, Phoenix, 1980, Caritas, 1980, Words
on the Wind, 1980, One More Ride on the Merry-Go-Round, 1980, Breakfast, 1981, Sullied Hand, 1981,
Four Portraits - Of Mothers, 1982, Annie Wobbler, 1982, Yardsale, 1983, Cinders, 1983, The Merchant,
1983, Whatever Happened to Betty Lemon?, 1986, When God Wanted a Son, 1986, Lady Othello, 1987,
Little Old Lady and Shoeshine, 1987, Badenheim 1939, 1987, The Mistress, 1988, Beorhtel’s Hill, 1988
(Community Play for Basildon) , Men Die Women Survive, 1990, Letter To A Daughter, 1990, Blood
Libel, 1991, Wild Spring, 1992, Bluey, 1993, The Confession, 1993, Circles of Perception, 1996, Break, My
Heart, 1997, Denial, 1997, Barabbas, 2000, The Kitchen Musical, 2000, Groupie, 2001, Longitude, 2002,
Honey, 2005 (novel) , The Rocking Horse, 2007.

Self Assessment

Multiple Choice Questions:
1. For which of the following play Arnold Wesker got inspiration working at Bell Hotel in
Norwich?
(a) The Kitchen (b) Chicken Soup with Barley
(c) The Nottingham Captain (d) Four Seasons.
2. Which of the following plays was not written by Arnold Wesker?
(a) Caritas (b) Family Voices
(c) The Mistress (d) When God Wanted a Son.
Fill in the blanks:
3. Wesker’s play The Merchant tells the plot of Shakespeare’s ...... from Shylock’s point of view.
4. In 2005, Arnold Wesker published his first novel, Honey, which recounted the experiences of
Beatie Bryant, the heroine of his earlier play ...... .
State whether the following statements are true or false:
5. Arnold Wesker met his future wife Dusty while working at the Bell Hotel in Norwich.
6. Many of Wesker’s plays have underlying social themes.

30.2 Roots—Introduction to the Text

Roots is the second play by Arnold Wesker in The Wesker Trilogy. The first part is Chicken Soup with
Barley and the final play I’m Talking about Jerusalem. Roots focuses on Beatie Bryant as she makes the

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