In memory of Joan Littlewood

Theatre Royal Stratford East has launched a public appeal to raise money for a sculpture to remember the legendary theatre director.
 

The theatre has commissioned the internationally acclaimed artist Philip Jackson to create the bronze sculpture, which will be placed in Theatre Square.

It will be a significant artwork for the area, which is situated on the edge of the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
 

To date, the theatre has raised more than 50 per cent of the cash required to complete the project and is asking members of the public to pledge their support to help raise the remaining money.
 

“Joan Littlewood brought theatre to the people of east London and revolutionised the international theatre landscape with her bold and powerful productions,“ says Kerry Michael, artistic director of Theatre Royal Stratford East.
 

“She was an inspiration to many and it’s important that we recognise the significance of her work and build upon her success to inspire future generations. We urge the public to get behind this important campaign.“

Joan brought her Theatre Workshop Company to Theatre Royal Stratford East in 1953, where she championed working class people, providing a stage for their stories and voices through ground-breaking new work, which included The Hostage by Brendan Behan, A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney and Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’ Be by Frank Norman and Lionel Bart.
 

In 1965 Littlewood’s company won the Grand Prix at the International Festival of Theatre in Paris with its play Oh What a Lovely War.
 

Subject to securing the additional £120,000 needed for the project, the sculpture would be erected outside the theatre in what is now Theatre Square.
 

It will be based on the iconic photograph of Joan Littlewood sitting on rubble outside the theatre in the 1970s when the theatre faced the threat of demolition.
 

To support: www.joanlittlewood.com
                                         Amie Mulderrig