Historically Responsive Storytelling - How Contemporary Western Theatre Is Rediscovering Its Roots

This book explores the notion that the emergent language of contemporary theatre, and more generally of modern culture, has links to much earlier forms of storytelling and an ancient worldview.

List of contents

List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Introduction
PART ONE: Looking Back: Tracing Theatre's Roots
Chapter 1. Reaching for the Unknowable: the Human need for Ritual
Chapter 2. A Flexible Superstructure: Macrocosm/Microcosm and the Medieval Worldview
Chapter 3. The Power of Archetype: Universal-General and Historical-Specific
Chapter 4. Time and Space: Hierophany and Imaginative Flexibility
PART TWO: Moving Forward: New Historically-Responsive Methods
Chapter 5. The Sacred Body-as-Text: from Medieval to Avant-Garde
Chapter 6. Seeking Immersion, Finding Connection: the Contemporary Theatre
Chapter 7. Theatre in Times of Crisis: the Power of Ancient Forms in Collective Processing
Bibliography
Index

About the author

Eleanor Chadwick is a researcher and theatre maker currently working with Watershed Pervasive Media Studio and University of Bristol on a MyWorld Fellowship. She is also Artistic Director of Sleight of Hand theatre company, and a postdoctoral associate in Theatre and Performance Studies at University of Warwick, UK.

Summary

This book explores the notion that the emergent language of contemporary theatre, and more generally of modern culture, has links to much earlier forms of storytelling and an ancient worldview.

Product details

• Authors: Eleanor Chadwick
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.11.2023
• EAN: 9780367547172
• ISBN: 978-0-367-54717-2
• No. of pages: 310
• Series: Routledge Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama > Drama; Humanities, art, music > Art > Theatre, ballet; European History, HISTORY / Europe / General, Anthropology, HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / General, PERFORMING ARTS / Theater / General, ART / Performance, Theatre Studies, Social and cultural history, Performance Art, modern;history;performance;theatre