This volume offers rare insights into the connection between young
audiences and the performing arts. Based on studies of adolescent and
post-adolescent audiences, ages 14 to 25, the book examines to what
extent they are part of our society's cultural conversation. It studies
how these young people read and understand theatrical performance. It
looks at what the educational components in their theatre literacy are,
and what they make of the whole social event of theatre. It studies
their views on the relationship between what they themselves decide and
what others decide for them. The book uses qualitative and quantitative
data collected in a six-year study carried out in the three largest
Australian States, thirteen major performing arts companies, including
the Sydney Opera House, three state theatre companies and three funding
organisations. The book's perspectives are derived from world-wide
literature and company practices and its significance and ramifications
are international.
The book is written to be engaging and accessible to theatre
professionals and lay readers interested in theatre, as well as scholars
and researchers.
"This extraordinary book thoroughly explains why young people (ages
14-25+) do and do not attend theatre into adulthood by delineating how
three inter-linked factors (literacy, confidence, and etiquette)
influence their decisions. Given that theatre happens inside spectators'
minds, the authors balance the theatre equation by focusing upon young
spectators and thereby dispel numerous beliefs held by theatre artists
and educators. Each clearly written chapter engages readers with astute
insights and compelling examples of pertinent responses from young
people, teachers, and theatre professionals. To stem the tide of
decreasing theatre attendance, this highly useful book offers pragmatic
strategies for artistic, educational, and marketing directors, as well
as national theatre organizations and arts councils around the world. I
have no doubt that its brilliantly conceived research, conducted across
multiple contexts in Australia, will make a significant and original
contribution to the profession of theatre on an international scale."
Jeanne Klein, University of Kansas, USA
"Young Audiences, Theatre and the Cultural Conversation is a
compelling and comprehensive study on attitudes and habits of youth
theatre audiences by leading international scholars in the field. This
benchmark study offers unique insights by and for theatre makers and
administrators, theatre educators and researchers, schools, parents,
teachers, students, audience members of all ages.
A key strength within the book centers on the emphasis of the
participant voices, particularly the voices of the youth. Youth voices,
along with those of teachers and theatre artists, position the extensive
field research front and center." George Belliveau, The University of
British Columbia, Canada
