4.2 Theatre, dance and comedy A playwright for all eras, William Shakespeare still looms large in British theatre a good 400 years after he was at work However, the late 20th century brought a new golden age, a time when Pinter, Stoppard, Hare, Bennett and others reinvigorated the British stage Now, if only they could get more people to actually visit the theatre… 185 Identity: the foundations of British culture Literature and philosophy Art, architecture and design Performing arts Cinema, photography and fashion Media and communications Food and drink Living culture: the state of modern Britain