Saved - 60 Years of Modern Plays

Regular Price
£12.99
Sale Price
£12.99
Regular Price
Sold Out
Unit Price
per 

Add some text content to a popup modal

Details

by Edward Bond

Described by Edward Bond as 'almost irresponsibly optimistic', Saved is a play set in London in the sixties amidst the cultural poverty and frustration of a generation of young people on the dole and living on council estates.


The play opens on Len and Pam preparing to have sex and asking each other their names. Pam's parents are deadlocked in a stultified, silent marriage. Len stays with the family as a lodger despite being rejected by Pam, in order to keep an eye on her neglected baby. Pam leaves the baby with Frank, whom she claims is its father, leading to one of modern theatre's most shocking scenes.


Saved's atmosphere of domestic bleakness ultimately cracks to reveal an underlying animalistic brutality, then settles back again, with an alarming glimpse of how little human life seems to be worth. It quickly became a notorious play and has since had a profound influence on a whole new generation of writers who emerged after it.


The play was first staged privately in November 1965 at the Royal Court Theatre for members of the English Stage Society at a time when plays were still censored. Bond's refusal to alter its scenes in response to the censor's demands meant it played a fundamental role in the successful campaign to repeal the laws governing censorship of plays.


Methuen Drama's iconic Modern Plays series began in 1959 with the publication of Shelagh Delaney's A Taste of Honey and has grown across six decades to now include more than 1000 plays by some of the best writers from around the world. This new special edition hardback of Saved was published to celebrate 60 years of Methuen Drama's Modern Plays in 2019, chosen by a public vote and features a brand new foreword by Simon Stephens.

Help Us Support Theatre

Every purchase you make from the National Theatre Bookshop helps fund the vital work of The National Theatre. Whether that's putting new work on stages across the world or supporting our outreach and learning programmes, every purchase you make really does make a difference.

Editorial content

We Recommend

Our staff are insightful and knowledgeable, many of them work as actors, artists and playwrights. Have a look at what they recommend this month and see if you can find your next piece of inspiration.

National Theatre Gifts

Our exclusive National Theatre gifts will be sure to add a smile to their recipient. Whether a budding playwright, a natural performer or a National Theatre super fan there is something for everyone.

Subscriptions

Give the gift of reading. Our experienced booksellers hand select, wrap and post a beautiful book to you every month. With Plays, Fiction or Poetry you can delight in making the words come to life in your hands.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Signup for our newsletter to stay up to date on sales and events.

*By completing this form you're signing up to receive our emails and can unsubscribe at any time