Romans in Britain, play, National Theatre, London

Jun. 06, 1976 - Nude Play Causes Storm At National Theatre: A new play at the National Theatre which includes explicit sex scenes, male nudity, homosexual rape and violence has whipped up a storm of protest. GLC Leader Sir Horace Cutler described the play Romans in Britain as a disgrace to the South Bank theatre and warned that it could lead to the withdrawal of the council's £630, 000 annual grant to the theatre. Howard Brenton's play is set in 54BC and concerns the Roman invasion of Britain and their brutal treatment of the native Celts and Druids. Later scenes in the play, an attack on colonialism and imperialism, are set in 6th century Britain and in Northern Ireland in 1980 where an Undercover British official is assassinated by the IRA. National Theatre Director Sir Peter Hall has defended the production, emphasising that it would not have been presented if it was merely sensational. Howard Brenton is an award-winning playwright with an international reputation. His play Weapons of Happiness was staged at the National Theatre in 1976 and won the Evening Standard Best Play of the Year Award. But Romans has opened to unfavourable reviews and lukewarm audience reaction

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Assassinated Brenton Brutal Causes Celts Concerns Controversial Cutler Defended Described Disgrace Druids Emphasising Explicit Homosexual Horace Imperialism Includes Merely Nudity Rape Reputation Reviews Sensational Shocking Staged Undercover Unfavourable Warned Whipped Withdrawal

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