There was a documentary about Joan Littlewood on BBC Radio 2 on Monday 10th November. It will be available on the BBC iplayer for 4 weeks


To commemorate Joan Littlewood's centenary, Catherine Tate hears from the stars of stage and screen who experienced the legendary directorial methods of the 'Mother of Modern Theatre'.

By the time 'Oh! What A Lovely War' premiered in 1963 the illegitimate daughter of a book-hating teenager in Stockwell had earned herself a place at RADA, formed her own Theatre company, been banned from the BBC and had three shows transferred to the West End.

Catherine traces Joan's personal struggles and creative triumphs, discovering how one woman shook the foundations of the British establishment and changed the face of theatre forever.

The Mother of Modern Theatre