Trained as an actress, in the 1930s, Joan Littlewood was "discovered" by Olive Shapley, one of the doyennes of 1950s Woman's Hour .
Joan set up several radical theatre groups culminating in Theatre Workshop. This was based at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East in London and specialised in gritty, experimental plays. Many of these transferred to the West End, the most famous being Oh! What a Lovely War in 1963.
Amongst the future stars who came to work for her were Michael Caine, Richard Harris, Nigel Hawthorn and Barbara Windsor.
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