This volume provides an introduction to the significant people, events, concepts and practices that have defined the complementary fields of theatre and performance studies.
Focusing on significant performances in Britain from the mid-1980s to the new millennium, this book offers a critical examination of contemporary British theatre through the lenses of national and supranational identities. It explores themes such as globalization, diaspora, and the impact of political events like New Labour's election and European unification. By analyzing the interplay between performance, cultural identities, and cultural power, it serves as a vital resource for students and scholars of British theatre and culture.
This book asks what is the quality of participation in contemporary art and performance? Has it been damaged by cultural policies which have 'entrepreneurialized' artists, cut arts funding and cultivated corporate philanthropy? Has it been fortified by crowdfunding, pop-ups and craftsmanship? And how can it help us to understand social welfare?
How can an understanding of theatre in the city help us make sense of urban social experience?