Description
Critical Themes in Drama is concerned with the relationship between drama and the current socio-political context. It builds on and contributes to ongoing scholarly conversations regarding the use, benefit, challenges and opportunities for drama and theatre as a social, cultural, educational and political act. The intention of this book is to canvas current theory and practice in drama, to provide an extended examination of how drama as a pro-social practice intersects with socio-cultural institutions, to link critical discourse and examine ways drama may contribute to a broader social justice agenda. Authors draw on a variety of theoretical tools from the fields of sociology, anthropology and cultural studies. This combines with an exploration of work from drama practitioners across a variety of countries and practices to provide a map of how the field is shaped and how we might understand drama praxis as a social, cultural and political force for change.
This book offers drama scholars, practitioners, researchers and teachers a critical exploration which is both hopeful and critical; acknowledging the complexities and potential pitfalls, while celebrating the opportunities for drama as a practice for social action and positive change.
About the Author
Kelly Freebody is Associate Professor at the Sydney School of Education and Social Work, The University of Sydney. Her research focuses on drama, social justice, creativity in education and school-community relationships. Her teaching interests include drama pedagogy and teacher education. Michael Finneran is Head of Drama and Theatre Studies at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Ireland, where he leads the BA and doctoral programmes in applied theatre. His research focuses on drama, theatre practice, creativity and social justice.