Here is Sam Mendes with the cast of Sceptre. The rating 12A for a film means that it is suitable for children aged 12 and over. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Recent James Bond films have all been given this classification and need it commercially to the extent that the director will make some cuts to get it. Spectre is 12A (just). Another successful operator in the entertainment business was not so lucky.
He was an actor, director and playwright. He put on over 37 new plays by 17 authors, including ten by his mentor G B Shaw, at the Royal Court theatre. So far so good. In 1907 he wrote a new play, Waste, and it was banned by the Lord Chamberlain. The play was eventually put on in 1936. Harley Granville Barker offended Edwardian sensibilities by including an abortion in his play and, though this was not given as a reason at the time, describing some backroom political scheming; pretty tame stuff these days.
Waste is now on at the National Theatre. It is a thought-provoking drama, maybe by the end becoming melodrama. Unusually for me, I paid close attention for three hours and was rewarded with a play about morality, loyalty and ambition – themes which resonate as much today as a century ago.
Granville Barker is largely forgotten but the National are in his debt and have put on two more of his plays, The Madras House and The Voysey Inheritance. In 1907 he wrote a proposal for a National Theatre to be built in London. His vision had to wait for two World Wars before being realised after his death in 1946.
You may enjoy Spectre but you will find Waste has more meat on the bone. It runs until 16th January on the Lyttleton stage.