Putting Your Daughters On The Stage by Sandra Freeman

This is a comprehensive exploration of how lesbian theatre emerged in Britain, from the left-wing fringe theatre of the 1960s to lesbian involvement in the Gay Sweatshop performances of the 1970s. The book examines the work of such companies as Gay Sweatshop, Siren Theatre Company, The Sadista Sisters, Women's Theatre Company, Monstrous Regiment and Cunning Stunts, and considers lesbian-specific theatre venues as 'lesbian spaces'. It also considers the role of the Arts Council and state subsidies in facilitating, and restricting, the evolution of lesbian theatre. The book provides a detailed examination of representative texts, with a discussion of the notion of the lesbian character, and how it is portrayed. It also contains a detailed historical survey which lists information on productions.