This book investigates the cultural and political significance of the British 'New Wave' theatre movement between 1956 and 1965. Stephen Lacey, a scholar of drama and media, utilizes a combination of historical analysis, contemporary critical reception, and close readings of seminal plays to argue that this movement represented a fundamental shift in how class, hegemony, and social realism were portrayed on the British stage. By situating these works within the broader context of post-war affluence and political consensus, the author demonstrates how these playwrights challenged established theatrical conventions and social norms.

Experts identify this text as a foundational resource for understanding the socio-political climate that birthed modern British drama. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous framework for analyzing the evolution of theatrical realism.