For this week, I focused on Mitchell's theatre context and how the time in which she lived may have impacted her perspective on making theatre.
The topic that caught my attention was the feminist movement during the 1950s-1980s, which is the period that Mitchell grew up in. Feminism was a movement that grew after World War 2, as women were able to take on notable roles in the war. The treatment of women after the war is what initiated the conflict, as women were encouraged to return to their old way of living. In 1968, there were riots against the Miss World contest, which many believed forced women to conform to materialistic and consumerist ideals. Furthermore, in that same year, censorship in the theatre was abolished. This was also influenced by the growing question of "how should theatre be used?" Many said that it should be used for the expression of an individual, thus it should be genuine and raw. Along with this, they claimed that theatre should not be performed privately for the upper classes, but instead be available to the general public.
Throughout this era of change, women became more vocal in their lack of opportunities. In the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, actresses presented their awareness of the prejudiced construct of theatre. Thus in 1972, a "Women’s Theatre Season" was held at the Almost Free Theatre in London. It led to the creation of the Women’s Theatre Group, which was the longest-running full time, a professional all-women theatre company in the country.
Overall I think this was a really interesting topic that gave more insight into what theatre was like during Mitchell's time. I thought it was interesting that Mitchell said that she was not entirely conscious of her incorporation of feminism in her works, but rather it was natural. This alludes to how she grew up during a crucial period in the fight for feminism. In conclusion, feminism brought a new wave of modernization, combining liberalization of theatre practices to liberate and experiment with the art form.