Great Text Reading - come read a play with us!

On the last Monday of every month people meet in Q's drawing room to read a play they may have heard of but not necessarily have read. Writer's come to see how the greats wrote, actors come to play multiple parts and theatre lovers come because it keeps them in touch with the art form. It is open all and everyone takes turns in playing characters from the play. Discussions ensue after over tea and biscuits.

In the month of April, we announced a new innovation at Great Texts. Each three months will be marked with a particular theme. So April to June, the theme is: GEORGE BERNARD SHAW. Last month, we read one of his most famous works, Candida, a comedy about the Victorian notion of love and fidelity.

Clearly Shaw is a popular choice. The drawing room was packed to capacity and the play was well appreciated. There were quite a few chuckles during the reading and the pacing of the writing added to the overall enjoyment. In the post reading chat, many remarked at the relevance a play written in the 19th century still had to us and our society, particularly the existing gender politics.

In May we continue our journey with Shaw by reading Mrs. Warren's Profession - about a middle-aged woman whose Cambridge-educated daughter, Vivie, is horrified to discover that her mother's fortune was made managing high-class brothels.

The play was originally banned by the Lord Chamberlain (Britain's official theatre censor) because of its frank discussion and portrayal of prostitution, but was finally first performed on Sunday, January 5, 1902, at London's New Lyric Club with the distinguished actor-manager Harley Granville-Barker among the cast. (Members-only clubs have always been a device to avoid the eye of authority, but actors often also use it to invite their fellow-artists to a private showing of a play, usually on Sundays, when theatres are closed to the public.) The first public performance in London took place in 1925.

A performance in New York, this time on a public stage in 1905, was interrupted by the police who arrested the cast and crew, although it appears only the house manager of the theatre was actually charged. The play has been revived on Broadway five times since, most recently in 2010.

So come to an evening of playwriting and prostitution on 30th of May at 7:30pm at 18 Anukool, Sq. Ldr. Harminder Singh Marg, 7 Bungalows. Next to Daljit Gym. All are welcome. If you need directions call Varrun on 26392688 or 9930666332.