... to impose restrictions for the protection of morals as for example the case of Handyside v United Kingdom in which the publication of the Little Red Schoolbook has been seized under the Obscene Publications Act 1959. These restrictions take two main forms: censorship of material by state authorities before it is published and the imposition of penalties after the event. By the late 1950s and early 1960s playwrights, such as John Osborne and Harold Pinter, were pushing the antiquated system of theatre censorship, via the Lord Chamberlain's office, to its limits. The Theatres Act 1968 was passed to cover live performances of a play or a ballet. The Act, does allow, subject to the approval of the Attorney General, for the prosecution of obscene performances. But the reluctance to prosecute under this Act, even when prompted by campaigners, means that this is probably one of the least controlled areas of ...

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