{"product_id":"2026770001847-secondhand-oh-what-a-lovely-war","title":"Oh What A Lovely War","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Fair                          \u003cbr\u003eJacket: No dust jacket\u003cbr\u003ePages: Good                  \u003cbr\u003eMarkings: No markings\u003cbr\u003eCondition remarks: Condition as shown in image\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA landmark work of political theatre, Oh What a Lovely War chronicles the catastrophic human cost of World War One through a biting, darkly satirical lens that blends music hall entertainment with devastating historical fact. Originally devised by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop in collaboration with Charles Chilton and the original cast, the script presents the war as a grotesque theatrical spectacle, using period songs, clowning, and sharp irony to expose the incompetence of military commanders and the tragic suffering of ordinary soldiers. The published text captures the raw, collaborative energy of its 1963 stage production, illustrating how collective devising and improvisational technique can produce theatre of profound moral urgency. Alternating between rousing wartime singalongs and harrowing casualty statistics projected for the audience, the work argues powerfully that the war to end all wars was a preventable slaughter orchestrated by an out-of-touch ruling class. It remains one of the most influential pieces of British political theatre ever created, as relevant and emotionally shattering today as when it first stunned audiences at Stratford East.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48839383253211,"sku":"2026770001847-SECONDHAND","price":12.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/d1b2e2ba-456a-4de6-aa26-9282b7dc5bd2.png?v=1780561113","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026770001847-secondhand-oh-what-a-lovely-war","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}