Theatre History & Styles

A broad-ranging collection of relevant resources aimed at the collaborative theatre sector. US focussed but with lots of relevant ideas for UK practitioners.  Network of Ensemble Theaters, 2020.

A detailed step by step guide book to the process used by Ann Jellicoe’s Colway Theatre Trust, and still of useful to anyone interested in staging a large scale community play. Ann Jellicoe, 1987 

John McGrath’s manifesto for Popular Theatre, describing what he believed theatre can achieve when it is taken out of traditional theatre buildings and engages with communities; and how 7:84 achieved this.  John McGrath, 1981 

This book introduces the work of Welfare State International and sets it in context, as well as giving practical guides and techniques for making lanterns, puppets and other ingredients for a WSI spectacle.  Tony Coult and Baz Kershaw, 1983 

A classic book that charts the growth of the community arts movement in the UK, its political context and its role in cultural activism. Reissued recently as a free e-book, a useful provocation for contemporary practitioners. Owen Kelly, 1984 

This classic book discusses the development of political theatre in the UK since Shakespeare with chapters on post 1960s political and community theatre. Andrew Davies, 1987 

This is an excellent description of social documentary theatre, explaining how the form works and its historical roots. Helpful for contemporary practitioners to better understand the form and see its applications.  Derek Paget, 1987 

This book gives a detailed introduction to Boal’s theories and sets out the different forms of Theatre of the Oppressed, including Image, Invisible and Forum theatre. Also includes many practical theatre games. For many more books by Boal about different aspects of TO look here. Augusto Boal, 1992 

One of the first books to document international community theatre through detailed case studies. These are excellent observations of diverse practices. Van Erven went on to establish the International Community Arts Festival.  Eugene van Erven, 2001