Feminist Theatre Then and Now

Feminist Theatre Then and Now PDF Author: Elaine Aston
Publisher: Aurora Metro Publications Ltd.
ISBN: 1913641392
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 443

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Book Description
Feminist Theatre Then & Now – Celebrating 50 Years of women theatre makers in the UK and Ireland and their battle to make their voices heard, have their work produced professionally, and promote social justice. Here, the pioneers and leading lights of the newly energised feminist theatre movement continue to fight for an equitable, diverse and inclusive theatre which speaks for all. In 30+ essays, covering three generations, the interviews and essays in this book give important insight into the lived experience of women working in theatre and what it takes to rise in an industry where race, gender, class and parenthood can be serious obstacles to success. Interviews and essays by playwrights, directors, producers and actors including: Asian Women’s Theatre in Britain by Rukhsana Ahmad Derby Theatre by Sarah Brigham Interview with Moira Buffini Intersectional Feminism at Work by Kelly Burke The Personal was very Political by Clair Chapwell Behind The Lines by Alison Child How Feminism has Influenced my Playwriting by April de Angelis Interview with Suzanne Gorman Clean Break by Anna Herrmann Interview with Hannah Khalil The Women in Theatre Lab by Polly Kemp and Jennifer Tuckett Persistence, Expression and Evolution by Peta Lily Interview with Roberta Livingston Ecofeminism by Bibi Lucille The Third World of Irish Women by Jaki McCarrick Monstrous Regiment by Mary McCusker Open Clasp Theatre by Catrina McHugh Interview with Suzie Miller Interview with Ann Mitchell Interview with Rebecca Mordan Interview with Amy Ng Untold Stories by Maeve O’Neill Girls’ Night Out by Rachel O’Regan Interview with Kaite O’Reilly Sphinx by Sue Parrish and Susan McGoun Interview with Julia Pascal Out of the Attic – WTW by Cheryl Robson and Anna Birch Scylla’s Bite by Rebekah Smith and Abbie Lowe Interview with Dame Rosemary Squire Women in their own Words by Lucy Stevens Stella Quines & After by Gerda Stevenson Differences Matter by SuAndi Theatre from a Lesbian Perspective by Clare Summerskill Interview with Imy Wyatt Corner Index Reviews “On the 50th anniversary of the first Women’s Theatre festival and the explosion of work by women that has built in quantity, wealth and diversity since then this is an important new book celebrating and giving voice to many of the key contributors to that rich history and exciting present. “ – Susan Croft, Director – Unfinished Histories “Fascinating histories and perspectives from a selection of feminist theatre practitioners fighting to achieve equality over half a century of patriarchy.” – Lisa Goldman, Writer & Director “A necessary read for drama students and anyone interested in our cultural history. Highly recommended.” – Beatie Edney, Actor & Director “The interview and essay structure of the book makes its near 300 pages easily digestible and the editor has quite carefully avoided a chronological structure. The intermingled ‘then’ and ‘now’ approach works remarkably well, a continual reminder of how past, present and future are feeding into one another all the time. While the book is strong on the impacts of earlier feminist theatremakers, the very similar or partially evolved restrictions that today’s women are still facing are given equivalent weight. It becomes a meaningful arrangement in which a wide range of voices are heard without singling out or forgetting eras or areas of the industry, making room for everything from clowning to lesbian theatre, exploring how all forms of feminist theatre from West End platforms to grassroots activism always blends the political and the personal onstage and off.” – Maryam Philpott, The Reviews Hub

Feminist Theatre Then and Now

Feminist Theatre Then and Now PDF Author: Elaine Aston
Publisher: Aurora Metro Publications Ltd.
ISBN: 1913641392
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 443

Get Book Here

Book Description
Feminist Theatre Then & Now – Celebrating 50 Years of women theatre makers in the UK and Ireland and their battle to make their voices heard, have their work produced professionally, and promote social justice. Here, the pioneers and leading lights of the newly energised feminist theatre movement continue to fight for an equitable, diverse and inclusive theatre which speaks for all. In 30+ essays, covering three generations, the interviews and essays in this book give important insight into the lived experience of women working in theatre and what it takes to rise in an industry where race, gender, class and parenthood can be serious obstacles to success. Interviews and essays by playwrights, directors, producers and actors including: Asian Women’s Theatre in Britain by Rukhsana Ahmad Derby Theatre by Sarah Brigham Interview with Moira Buffini Intersectional Feminism at Work by Kelly Burke The Personal was very Political by Clair Chapwell Behind The Lines by Alison Child How Feminism has Influenced my Playwriting by April de Angelis Interview with Suzanne Gorman Clean Break by Anna Herrmann Interview with Hannah Khalil The Women in Theatre Lab by Polly Kemp and Jennifer Tuckett Persistence, Expression and Evolution by Peta Lily Interview with Roberta Livingston Ecofeminism by Bibi Lucille The Third World of Irish Women by Jaki McCarrick Monstrous Regiment by Mary McCusker Open Clasp Theatre by Catrina McHugh Interview with Suzie Miller Interview with Ann Mitchell Interview with Rebecca Mordan Interview with Amy Ng Untold Stories by Maeve O’Neill Girls’ Night Out by Rachel O’Regan Interview with Kaite O’Reilly Sphinx by Sue Parrish and Susan McGoun Interview with Julia Pascal Out of the Attic – WTW by Cheryl Robson and Anna Birch Scylla’s Bite by Rebekah Smith and Abbie Lowe Interview with Dame Rosemary Squire Women in their own Words by Lucy Stevens Stella Quines & After by Gerda Stevenson Differences Matter by SuAndi Theatre from a Lesbian Perspective by Clare Summerskill Interview with Imy Wyatt Corner Index Reviews “On the 50th anniversary of the first Women’s Theatre festival and the explosion of work by women that has built in quantity, wealth and diversity since then this is an important new book celebrating and giving voice to many of the key contributors to that rich history and exciting present. “ – Susan Croft, Director – Unfinished Histories “Fascinating histories and perspectives from a selection of feminist theatre practitioners fighting to achieve equality over half a century of patriarchy.” – Lisa Goldman, Writer & Director “A necessary read for drama students and anyone interested in our cultural history. Highly recommended.” – Beatie Edney, Actor & Director “The interview and essay structure of the book makes its near 300 pages easily digestible and the editor has quite carefully avoided a chronological structure. The intermingled ‘then’ and ‘now’ approach works remarkably well, a continual reminder of how past, present and future are feeding into one another all the time. While the book is strong on the impacts of earlier feminist theatremakers, the very similar or partially evolved restrictions that today’s women are still facing are given equivalent weight. It becomes a meaningful arrangement in which a wide range of voices are heard without singling out or forgetting eras or areas of the industry, making room for everything from clowning to lesbian theatre, exploring how all forms of feminist theatre from West End platforms to grassroots activism always blends the political and the personal onstage and off.” – Maryam Philpott, The Reviews Hub

From Aphra Behn to Fun Home

From Aphra Behn to Fun Home PDF Author: Carey Purcell
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1538115263
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 309

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Book Description
Theatre has long been considered a feminine interest for which women consistently purchase the majority of tickets, while the shows they are seeing typically are written and brought to the stage by men. Furthermore, the stories these productions tell are often about men, and the complex leading roles in these shows are written for and performed by male actors. Despite this imbalance, the feminist voice presses to be heard and has done so with more success than ever before. In From Aphra Behn to Fun Home: A Cultural History of Feminist Theatre, Carey Purcell traces the evolution of these important artists and productions over several centuries. After examining the roots of feminist theatre in early Greek plays and looking at occasional works produced before the twentieth century, Purcell then identifies the key players and productions that have emerged over the last several decades. This book covers the heyday of the second wave feminist movement—which saw the growth of female-centric theatre groups—and highlights the work of playwrights such as Caryl Churchill, Pam Gems, and Wendy Wasserstein. Other prominent artists discussed here include playwrights Paula Vogel Lynn and Tony-award winning directors Garry Hynes and Julie Taymor. The volume also examines diversity in contemporary feminist theatre—with discussions of such playwrights as Young Jean Lee and Lynn Nottage—and a look toward the future. Purcell explores the very nature of feminist theater—does it qualify if a play is written by a woman or does it just need to feature strong female characters?—as well as how notable activist work for feminism has played a pivotal role in theatre. An engaging survey of female artists on stage and behind the scenes, From Aphra Behn to Fun Home will be of interest to theatregoers and anyone interested in the invaluable contributions of women in the performing arts.

Feminist Theatre Practice: A Handbook

Feminist Theatre Practice: A Handbook PDF Author: Elaine Aston
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134771509
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 236

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Book Description
Feminist Theatre Practice: A Handbook is a helpful, practical guide to theatre-making which explores the different ways of representing gender. Best-selling author, Elaine Aston, takes the reader through the various stages of making feminist theatre- from warming up, through workshopped exploration, to performance - this volume is organised into three clear and instructive parts: * Women in the Workshop * Dramatic Texts, Feminist Contexts * Gender and Devising Projects. Orientated around the classroom/workshop, Handbook of Feminist Theatre Practice encompasses the main elements of feminist theatre, both practical or theoretical.

The Feminist Spectator as Critic

The Feminist Spectator as Critic PDF Author: Jill Dolan
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
ISBN: 9780472081608
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 170

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Book Description
Extends the feminist analysis of representation to the realm of performance

Black Feminism in Contemporary Drama

Black Feminism in Contemporary Drama PDF Author: Lisa M. Anderson
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
ISBN: 0252032284
Category : African Americans in literature
Languages : en
Pages : 154

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Book Description
In tracing black feminism in contemporary drama by black women playwrights, Lisa M. Anderson reviews the history of black feminism through analysis of plays by Pearl Cleage, Glenda Dickerson, Breena Clarke, Kia Corthron, Suzan-Lori Parks, Sharon Bridgforth, and Shirlene Holmes.Black Feminism in Contemporary Dramarepresents a cross section of women who have diverse writing and performance styles and generational differences that highlight the artistic and political breadth of black feminist theater. Anderson closely investigates each play's construction and the context of its production, including how the play critiques, shifts, or alters dominant culture stereotypes; how it positions goals of the "community"; and how it engages with the concept of art's function. She not only discusses what shapes the black feminism of these writers but also points out how the meaning of the term black feminism shifts among them.

Feminist Theatres in the USA

Feminist Theatres in the USA PDF Author: Charlotte Canning
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134859635
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 292

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Book Description
Feminist Theaters in the USA is a fresh, informative portrait of a key era in feminist and theater history It is vital reading for feminist students, theater historians and theater practitioners. Their continued movement forward will be challenged and enriched by this timely look back at the trials and accomplishments of their predecessors. Canning interviews over thirty women who took part in the dynamic feminist theater of the 1970s and 1980s. They provide first-hand accounts of the excitement, struggles and innovations which formed their experience. From this foundation Cannning constructs a compelling combination of historical survey, critique and celebration which explores: * The history of the groups and their formation * The politics which shaped their work * Their methods and creative processes * The productions they brought to the stage * The reception from critics and audiences

The Routledge Companion to Site-Specific Performance

The Routledge Companion to Site-Specific Performance PDF Author: Victoria Hunter
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1040255477
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 732

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Book Description
This collection comprises a comprehensive overview of key themes, arguments, and practices central to the study and understanding of site-specific performance. Its collected essays, case studies, and practitioner accounts represent a must-have resource that engages with established and emergent ideas, themes, and practices central to this performance sub-discipline. Acknowledging the interdisciplinary nature of this field emergent through the creation and presentation of performance in non-theatre spaces, the companion includes writing from scholars whose work intersects with ideas from a range of related fields including dance, theatre, dramaturgy, human geography, architecture, walking studies, and archaeology. Alongside theoretical discussions and case study examples, a section on methods and structures allows site-specific practitioners to illustrate a range of practical approaches, tasks, and modes of producing site-specific performance in a range of sites. This interdisciplinary survey brings together practices and voices from a wide range of global contexts, demonstrating and challenging the breadth of site-specific discourse. It provides a rich palette of perspectives, approaches, and ideas for students, academics, and researchers to draw from.

An Actress Prepares

An Actress Prepares PDF Author: Rosemary Malague
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136503897
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 315

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Book Description
'Every day, thousands of women enter acting classes where most of them will receive some variation on the Stanislavsky-based training that has now been taught in the U.S. for nearly ninety years. Yet relatively little feminist consideration has been given to the experience of the student actress: What happens to women in Method actor training?' An Actress Prepares is the first book to interrogate Method acting from a specifically feminist perspective. Rose Malague addresses "the Method" not only with much-needed critical distance, but also the crucial insider's view of a trained actor. Case studies examine the preeminent American teachers who popularized and transformed elements of Stanislavsky’s System within the U.S.—Strasberg, Adler, Meisner, and Hagen— by analyzing and comparing their related but distinctly different approaches. This book confronts the sexism that still exists in actor training and exposes the gender biases embedded within the Method itself. Its in-depth examination of these Stanislavskian techniques seeks to reclaim Method acting from its patriarchal practices and to empower women who act. 'I've been waiting for someone to write this book for years: a thorough-going analysis and reconsideration of American approaches to Stanislavsky from a feminist perspective ... lively, intelligent, and engaging.' – Phillip Zarrilli, University of Exeter 'Theatre people of any gender will be transformed by Rose Malague’s eye-opening study An Actress Prepares... This book will be useful to all scholars and practitioners determined to make gender equity central to how they hone their craft and their thinking.' – Jill Dolan, Princeton University

Changed for Good

Changed for Good PDF Author: Stacy Wolf
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195378245
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 319

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Book Description
In this lively book, Stacy Wolf illuminates the women of American musical theater--performers, creators, and characters--from the start of the cold war to the present day, creating a new feminist history of the genre. Moving from decade to decade, Wolf highlights the assumptions that circulated about gender and sexuality at the time and then looks at the leading musicals, stressing the aspects of the plays that relate to women. The musicals discussed here are among the most beloved in the canon--"West Side Story," "Guys & Dolls," "Cabaret," and many others--with special emphasis on "Wicked."

Feminist Theatre and Theory

Feminist Theatre and Theory PDF Author: Helene Keyssar
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN: 9780312126360
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 288

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Book Description