RIP Trevor Griffiths Marxist playwright

[The39thStep]

Griffiths was part of a generation of socialist and Marxist playwrights, writers and directors whose works appeared in theatres, on TV and on the big screen from the 1960s-1980s.

Obituaries from :

The Telegraph

https://archive.ph/n4ctu

The Guardian

Trevor Griffiths: Mancunian Marxist whose political plays deserve revival

Griffiths, who has died aged 88, explored the conflict between reform and revolution in plays and scripts from the film Reds to dramas such as Occupations, The Party and Comedians

www.theguardian.com

 

[danny la rouge]

Orang Utan

 

[discokermit]

i saw "the party" on telly in '88. would love to see it again.

 

[imposs1904]

i saw "the party" on telly in '88. would love to see it again.

I came here to write the same thing. Sadly, it's never turned up on YouTube or any bit torrent sites.

Maybe, I finally get around to watching Bill Brand.

 

[Ax^]

some people might like this rip

 

[redsquirrel]

Work due a revival in more ways than one

 

[PTK]

"Bill Brand" was good the first time round, and good the second time round. If you want to understand the left politics of Britain in 1970s, whether you remember them or not, it is worth watching. It is on Youtube.

 

[The39thStep]

 

[Steel Icarus]

some people might like this rip

I watched this first when I was about 16. Made my grandpa watch it
Terrific performances, especially Jonathan Pryce, but Bill Fraser is his equal.

 

[ska invita]

before my time, sounds like an excellent body of work, i hope to watch some of it some time..... does feel like a different era compared to modern tv... my initial thought of seeing exploring "the conflict between reform and revolution " is... if only.

 

[ska invita]

this looks great...whole thing here

 

[JimW]

"Bill Brand" was good the first time round, and good the second time round. If you want to understand the left politics of Britain in 1970s, whether you remember them or not, it is worth watching. It is on Youtube.

Downloaded and watched that a few years back on someone's recommendation and it was indeed excellent.

 

[The39thStep]

before my time, sounds like an excellent body of work, i hope to watch some of it some time..... does feel like a different era compared to modern tv... my initial thought of seeing exploring "the conflict between reform and revolution " is... if only.

I commented on a thread on here sometime ago that there was a body of work on TV in the mid 60s to mid 80s in which this sort of subject matter just wouldn't be possible now . It's not just been pushed to the margins , there is simply no supply , no generation of writers steeped in such politics.

 

[Steel Icarus]

I commented on a thread on here sometime ago that there was a body of work on TV in the mid 60s to mid 80s in which this sort of subject matter just wouldn't be possible now . It's not just been pushed to the margins , there is simply no supply , no generation of writers steeped in such politics.

No people, let alone writers, let alone playwrights

 

[PTK]

Wow! I would love to see the whole play. We need to get a video of that, and show it widely in the movement.

 

[PTK]

this looks great...whole thing here

Thank you!

 

[Fedayn]

Among all of his great work, Oi for England is a fucking shocker, jam packed with ignorant myths and silly claims. The geography and musical setting was so at odds with his really brilliant work. He wrote a large amount of the screenplay for the film REDS that Warren Beatty won an Oscar for. It would have been interesting to see such a film using entirely a Griffiths screenplay.

 

[The39thStep]

AMong all o0f his great work, Oi for England is a fucking shocker, jam packed with ignorant myths and silly claims. The geography and musical setting was so at odds with his really brilliant work. He wrote a large amount of the screenplay for the films REDS that Warren Beatty won an Oscar for. It would have been interesting to see such a film using entirely a Griffiths screenplay.

Yup, I went to see Oi for England and politically it was disappointing.

 

[ska invita]

I commented on a thread on here sometime ago that there was a body of work on TV in the mid 60s to mid 80s in which this sort of subject matter just wouldn't be possible now . It's not just been pushed to the margins , there is simply no supply , no generation of writers steeped in such politics.

But also the idea of berating Atlee for not going far enough feels like a position of luxury, as does the mildest reformism

 

[ska invita]

The influence of theatre has really gone in general, not just in britain...

 

[Fedayn]

Yup, I went to see Oi for England and politically it was disappointing.

True, but it is one glitch in a pretty remarkable canon to be fair.

 

[The39thStep]

The influence of theatre has really gone in general, not just in britain...

The influence of a debate about transforming or even reforming society in the interests of the working class has also really gone, not just in Britain.

 

[flypanam]

Ah horrible news. When I worked at a drama school library , I’d always push Griffiths on students. Most were bemused but every year there would one or two enthused to seek out more. When I left last year there was a young fella doing his UG on Trevor. Definitely due a reappraisal and reruns.

 

[ska invita]

But also the idea of berating Atlee for not going far enough feels like a position of luxury, as does the mildest reformism

Right on cue .... Exactly right

Keir Starmer's bad history - Red Pepper

With his insights as a historian of the modern UK, David Edgerton looks at Labour’s new affinity with the Tories

www.redpepper.org.uk

 

[planetgeli]

I commented on a thread on here sometime ago that there was a body of work on TV in the mid 60s to mid 80s in which this sort of subject matter just wouldn't be possible now . It's not just been pushed to the margins , there is simply no supply , no generation of writers steeped in such politics.

And Ken Loach has said he's made his last film

 

[discokermit]

as working class strength has waned, telly has got shitter. less working class writers and performers and middle class writers not drawn to the working class anymore.

 

[RD2003]

Griffiths was part of a generation of socialist and Marxist playwrights, writers and directors whose works appeared in theatres, on TV and on the big screen from the 1960s-1980s.

Obituaries from :

The Telegraph

https://archive.ph/n4ctu

The Guardian

Trevor Griffiths: Mancunian Marxist whose political plays deserve revival

Griffiths, who has died aged 88, explored the conflict between reform and revolution in plays and scripts from the film Reds to dramas such as Occupations, The Party and Comedians

www.theguardian.com

Ancoats lad, and a City fan as well.