From the Greeks and Shakespeare to the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, war
has often been a major theme of dramatic performances. However, many of
the most extraordinary theater projects in recent years not only have
been about war but also have originated in actual conflict zones
themselves. Performance in Place of War is concerned with these
initiatives, including theater in refugee camps, in war-ravaged
villages, in towns under curfew, and in cities under occupation. It
looks at theater and performances that often occur quite literally as
bombs are falling, as well as during times of ceasefire and in the
aftermath of hostilities.
Performance in Place of War draws on extensive original material and
includes interviews with artists, short play extracts, and photographs
from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kosovo, Israel, Lebanon, Sudan,
and others. The authors combine critical commentary, overviews of the
conflicts and first-hand accounts in order to consider such questions
as: Why in times of disruption have people turned to performance? And
what aesthetic, ethical, and political choices are made in these
different contexts? Performance in Place of War is a fascinating
perspective on the role of theater in unpredictable, war-torn times.
