East End Jewish involvement in Unity theatre and post-war British entertainment : a study of second generation identity
This thesis is the first study of second generation Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe who took part in left-wing political theatre groups in the first half of the twentieth century. Much activity was centred in London's East End and this thesis will explore how seeds were sown there. Although there has been research on Jewish participation in traditional theatre, little has been done on Jewish involvement in ground breaking theatre. A background will be given on Jewish history in the East End, Yiddish theatre and Jewish interest in East End theatres and music halls. This, together with Jewish involvement in left-wing politics, will explain the attraction to join Unity. Unity provided an entrance for Jewish actors into the entertainment industry, including Lionel Bart, Alfie Bass, David Kossoff and Warren Mitchell, who will form the heart of this thesis. They became famous for their 'Cockney' persona without denying their Jewishness. They have been chosen to show their different pathways out of the East End and Unity. Their biographies will not stand alone but looked at as a collective biography. The study will consider their families' background to see if this impacted their Jewish identity and political
Seddon, Isabelle
East End Jewish involvement in Unity theatre and post-war British entertainment : a study of second generation identity. This thesis is the first study of second generation Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe who took part in left-wing political theatre groups in the first half of the twentieth century. Much activity was centred in London's East End and this thesis will explore how seeds were sown there. Although there has been research on Jewish participation in traditional theatre, little has been done on Jewish involvement in ground breaking theatre. A background will be given on Jewish history in the East End, Yiddish theatre and Jewish interest in East End theatres and music halls. This, together with Jewish involvement in left-wing politics, will explain the attraction to join Unity. Unity provided an entrance for Jewish actors into the entertainment industry, including Lionel Bart, Alfie Bass, David Kossoff and Warren Mitchell, who will form the heart of this thesis. They became famous for their 'Cockney' persona without denying their Jewishness. They have been chosen to show their different pathways out of the East End and Unity. Their biographies will not stand alone but looked at as a collective biography. The study will consider their families' background to see if this impacted their Jewish identity and political
east end jewish involvement unity theatre post_war british entertainment study second_generation identity first study second_generation jewish immigrant eastern_europe take_part left_wing political theatre group much activity centre london east end explore seed there although jewish participation traditional theatre little jewish involvement ground break theatre background give jewish history east end theatre jewish interest east end music hall together jewish involvement left_wing politics explain attraction join unity unity provide entrance jewish actor entertainment industry include form heart thesis become famous persona without deny choose show different pathway east end unity biography stand alone look collective biography study consider family_background see impacted jewish_identity political