Saved (play)
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| Saved | |
| Written by | Edward Bond |
|---|---|
| Characters | Len Pam |
| Date of premiere | November 1965 |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | 1960s London |
Saved is a play written by Edward Bond, and was first produced at the Royal Court Theatre in November 1965. It was originally enacted privately, under "club" auspices, since the play was initially censored due largely to the infamous 'stoning of a baby' scene.
The play itself is set in London during the 1960s. Its subject is the cultural poverty and frustration of a generation of young people on the dole and living on council estates. In response to the censorship of the play, Laurence Olivier wrote a letter to the Observer newspaper, saying that: "Saved is not a play for children but it is for grown-ups, and the grown-ups of this country should have the courage to look at it."
Saved was originally refused licence without severe cuts by the Lord Chamberlain. When it was performed to large private audiences, the Lord Chamberlain decided to sue those who were involved in the production of the play. Although the defendants pleaded guilty and were fined, the case reflected badly on the censorship office and was pivotal in the abolishment of theatre censorship a few years later.
The original cast was John Castle, Tony Selby, Richard Butler, Ronald Pickup, Dennis Waterman, John Bull, William Stewart, Barbara Ferris, Gwen Nelson and Alison Fraser.
[edit] References
- American Repertory Theatre's Edward Bond and the Morality of Violence
