Applied Drama: The Gift of Theatre

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This core text offers insight into theatre-making that takes place in communities across the world. Offering an overview of the theory that underpins practice in applied drama, this thought-provoking text outlines practices in the context of contemporary political and theoretical concerns. It considers the role of artists who work in challenging settings, including prisons, schools, hostels for the homeless, care homes for the elderly and on the street. In so doing, the book poses critical questions about the aesthetics and ethics of applied theatre. It also invites debate about the environments in which applied theatre takes place.

Written by an experienced academic in the field, this lively text is the ideal introductory text for students on Applied Theatre degree programmes and those taking Applied Theatre modules on Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies programmes. It is also essential reading for practitioners of applied theatre looking for a comprehensive insight into theatre-making and its impact in an increasingly globalized world.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

In an introduction and four well-organized sections, Nicholson breaks down the ways in which theater functions as a communal tool. She stresses utilitarian and politically radicalized approaches in the search for social justice for marginal and disenfranchised communities of the world. This global view is useful, as is her focus on the "gift" of theater performances in prisons, schools, homeless shelters, senior citizen facilities, and on the street. In essence, she creates a handbook that offers varied examples of the ways in which applied theater has and is functioning in promoting social debate and human rights. Nicholson seeks to develop citizen artists who view drama as an essential tool in participatory citizenship, and she is effective in exploring the theoretical foundation of her notion of interventionist theater. She is at her most persuasive when providing a variety of approaches to theater making and in arguing for the value of progressive storytelling for society as a whole. The volume includes a useful bibliography, but the omission of illustrations is unfortunate given the visual nature of some of the performative examples. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through graduate students; professionals. J. Fisher Wabash College