Across the UK thousands of people are involved in protests

and debates, sparked into action by the largest cuts to public

spending since WWII – cuts which are the turning point of a

generation, undermining the welfare state, higher education

and the arts in one fell swoop. Theatre Uncut is a national

theatre event in response to these cuts, bringing together

some of the UK’s leading dramatists.

Theatre Uncut’s flagship event took place in London from 16- 19 March 2011. Drama groups, universities, youth clubs and theatre companies nationwide joined the event, staging their own versions of the shorts in a national theatrical uprising. Now published in this new collection, Theatre Uncut containsthese short plays, addressing audiences who want to think about what the budget cuts really mean, and who they are really hitting.

A debate is underway. Protest might begin, minds might be

changed, views challenged, ideas formed. Theatre Uncut is a response to a situation that we cannot control, and over whichwe had no say.

Clara Brennan