Live Like Pigs: theatrical conventions of the period

Section: Contextual Genre

Live Like Pigs falls under the genre of kitchen sink realism, a characteristic theatrical convention of the post-war period in Britain.
This genre is devoted to an unflinching portrayal of working-class life, domination by economic struggles, restricted opportunities and an often bleak view of the future.
John Arden as a playwright was at the forefront of the British New Wave movement which was a shift towards more socially conscious narratives, emphasising realism over melodrama.

Section: Staging

The play uses traditional theatrical conventions of the proscenium stage which was prevalent during this period and allows the audience to feel like an outsider peeping into the lives of the characters.
It also integrates elements of Brechtian staging, pushing audience engagement towards intellectual understanding rather than emotional attachment. Techniques include direct addresses to the audience, breaking the fourth wall, and alienation effects.

Section: Ensemble Cast

Live Like Pigs employs an ensemble cast, a group of actors playing characters of equal importance in the narrative; no player dominates the performance, common in British theatre during the period.
Conventionally, such an ensemble cast was used to reflect a slice-of-life realism, where multiple perspectives are explored and shared within the community of characters.

Section: Authentic Dialects and Speech

The play adheres to the convention of using authentic dialects and speech of the period, reinforcing its realist aims.
The frequent usage of the local dialect gives a more lifelike representation of the characters, their background, culture, and socio-economic status, thereby enhancing their socio-political commentaries.

Section: Social Commentaries

Arden’s play makes use of the convention of social commentary, a very powerful tool used in theatre during this period, to raise important societal issues.
Through the decaying living conditions and disparate social status of the characters, the play explores issues such as gentrification, poverty, upward mobility, and the transition from the old to new.