Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Applied Theatre: Economies addresses a notoriously problematic area of applied theatre, asking: Is it all about the money? Are the aims and forms of applied theatre inevitably determined by the economic conditions in which it is produced? Will applied theatre makers always, ultimately, align with the agendas of the donors on which they depend? Are there sustainable ways to finance or resource applied theatre that do not undermine its social and artistic values or conflict with the interests of participants?
The first part of the book considers how applied theatre's relationship with its economic context can be understood from different theoretical and philosophical perspectives and the implications of different modes of funding and income generation. In the second part six international case studies are offered that draw on the authors' direct experiences of running applied theatre companies, programmes or projects and of sustained, engaged research in such settings. These give a vivid insight into the complex day-to-day challenges of sustaining applied theatre work in the UK, New Zealand, Canada, Hong Kong, Chile and Kenya. Each case study illuminates ways in which applied theatre practitioners bring artistic and social justice principles to bear on financial and organisational processes.
Synopsis
Applied Theatre: Economies addresses a notoriously problematic area; applied theatre's relationship to the economy and the ways in which socially committed theatre makers fund, finance, or otherwise resource their work.
Part One addresses longstanding concerns in the field about the effects of economic conditions and funding relationships on applied theatre practice. It considers how applied theatre's relationship with local and global economies can be understood from different theoretical and philosophical perspectives. It also examines a range of ways in which applied theatre can be resourced, identifying key issues and seeking possibilities for theatre makers to sustain their work without undermining their social and artistic values.
The international case studies in Part Two give vivid insights into the day-to-day challenges of resourcing applied theatre work in Chile, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the US. The authors examine critical issues or points of tension that have arisen in a particular funding relationship or from specific economic activities. Each study also illuminates ways in which applied theatre makers can bring artistic and social justice principles to bear on financial and organisational processes.
The Applied Theatre series is a major innovation in applied theatre scholarship: each book presents new ways of seeing and critically reflecting on this dynamic and vibrant field. Volumes offer a theoretical framework and introductory survey of the field addressed, combined with a range of case studies illustrating and critically engaging with practice.
Synopsis
The APPLIED THEATRE series is a major innovation in applied theatre
scholarship: each book presents new ways of seeing and critically reflecting on this dynamic and
vibrant field. Volumes offer a theoretical framework and introductory survey of the field
addressed, combined with a range of case studies illustrating and critically engaging with
practice.
Series Editors: Sheila Preston and Michael Balfour
Applied Theatre: Economies addresses a notoriously problematic area: applied theatre's relationship
to the economy and the ways in which socially committed theatre makers fund, finance or otherwise
resource their work.
Part One addresses longstanding concerns in the field about the effects of economic conditions and
funding relationships on applied theatre practice. It considers how applied theatre's relationship
with local
and global economies can be understood from different theoretical and philosophical perspectives.
It also examines a range of ways in which applied theatre can be resourced, identifying key issues
and seeking possibilities for theatre makers to sustain their work without undermining their social
and artistic values.
The international case studies in Part Two give vivid insights into the day-to-day challenges of
resourcing applied theatre work in Chile, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the US. The
authors examine critical issues or points of tension that have arisen in a particular funding
relationship or from specific economic activities. Each study also illuminates ways in which
applied theatre makers can bring artistic and social justice principles to bear on financial and
organizational processes.