LIT 282 Theatre & Politics

The course examines the depiction of political issues such as colonialism, totalitarianism, controversies concerning domestic and international policies, terrorism, and the resurgence of nationalism in twentieth- and twenty-first-century theatre. It also aims to discuss the role that theatre might play as a form of cultural intervention in these issues.
The exploration of theatre and politics is based on an introduction to principal styles and genres of modern theatre that contemporary playwrights may use to address their themes, such as naturalism, epic theatre, and the theatre of the absurd. Influences of these styles will be traced in recent European, American and Latin American plays, and will be followed by a discussion of new theatrical genres, for instance, the monologue play or verbatim drama.
Classes will be complemented by the screening of extracts from productions and other visual material, and by optional attendance at available theatre productions (live or online).