Solidarity and Ensemble: George Sand and a People's Theatre

Our understanding of the idea of a ‘people's theatre’ in France derives mainly from Romain Rolland's seminal essay of that title, published at the turn of the century – from which excerpts were translated in TQ23 of our first series, together with other material on the subject going back to around 1870. Yet the French writer George Sand had evolved, more in practice than in theory, a very different approach at a considerably earlier date – and, notably in her play Old Man Go-It-Alone, she presented the working class as a ‘hero’ in its own collective right, as opposed to Romain's preference for portraying the heroic individualism of revolutionary leaders. Gay Manifold looks closely at this play within the context of Sand's life, career, and framework of beliefs. A theatre director, dramaturg, and writer, who is currently Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts at California State University, Los Angeles, Gay Manifold has published a full-length study of George Sand's Theatre Career, just available from UMI Research Press, Michigan.