Joan Littlewood

Joan Maud Littlewood (6 October 1914 – 20 September 2002) was an English theatredirector, noted for her work in developing the left-wing Theatre Workshop. She has been called “The Mother of Modern Theatre”.

She is perhaps most famously remembered for OH, WHAT A LOVELY WAR! which she adapted for the stage with Gerry Raffles. The improvised OH, WHAT A LOVELY WAR!, which brought Theater Workshop its greatest success, was a satire of World War I done in 1963 as a music hall revue with the actors in black-and-white commedia dell’arte costumes. It was later staged on Broadway and was made into an all-star film in 1969 by Richard Attenborough.