Developing Theatre in the Global South

Más información sobre el libro

This collection draws on new research from the ERC project ‘Developing Theatre’ to present innovative institutional approaches to theatre historiography in the Global South since 1945. It encompasses perspectives from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, examining how US philanthropy, international organizations, and pan-African festivals contributed to the globalization and institutionalization of performing arts in these regions. During the Cultural Cold War, the Global North promoted cultural infrastructures adaptable to various environments, influencing the development of national theatres, new pedagogical tools, and the workshop format. The networks of experts highlighted include both celebrated figures like Augusto Boal and Efua Sutherland, as well as lesser-known contributors such as Albert Botbol, Severino Montano, and Metin And, all of whom played significant roles in the postwar theatrical epistemic community. This work investigates the institutional factors that fostered the emergence of professional theatre in the decolonizing world, enabling theatre studies to transcend its traditional national and local focus on plays and productions, and engage with contemporary discourses in transnational and global history.