Synopses & Reviews
Theater, in a variety of forms and contexts, can make, and indeed has made, positive political and social interventions in a range of developing cultures around the world. In this book a distinguished team of theater historians and dramatists explore how theater has a dynamic and often difficult relationship with societies and states, arguing positively that theatrical activity can make a difference. The collection begins with a foreword by Wole Soyinka and, throughout the volume, specially chosen plays, projects and movements are examined in countries such as Brazil and Argentina, Nigeria, Eritrea and South Africa, India and the Caribbean.
Table of Contents
Foreword: a letter from Kingston Wole Soyinka; 1. Introduction Jane Plastow; 2. 'The Revolution as Muse': drama as surreptitious insurrection in a post-colonial, military state Femi Osofisan; 3. Making theatre for a change: two plays of the Eritrean liberation struggle Jane Plastow and Solomon Tsehaye; 4. Race matters in South African theatre Ian Steadman; 5. Dreams of violence: moving beyond colonialism in Canadian and Caribbean drama Christopher Innes; 6. The French-speaking Caribbean: journeying from the native land Carole-Anne Upton; 7. 'Binglishing' the stage: a generation of Asian theatre in England Jatinder Verma; 8. Popular theatre for the building of social awareness: the Indian experience Jacob Srampickal and Richard Boon; 9. The promise of performance: True Love/Real Love Paul Heritage; 10. Making America or making revolution: the theatre of Ricardo Halac in Argentina George Woodyard.