Performance Theory

Richard Schechner - one of contemporary theatre's foremeost practitioners- explores in these essays the origins of performance, drama, and theatre and delineates the subtle differences between them. He emphasizes the complex interrelationships that form the basis of ethnological studies of ritual, performance in everyday life, environmental theatre, modern European and American theatre, Eurasian and African theatre, body-oriented dialogue and psychotherapies, play, crisis behaviour, rites of passage and mysticism (especially shamanism). Few have had quite as much impact in both the academy and in the world of theatre production as Richard Schechner. For more than four decades his work has challenged conventional definitions of theatre, ritual and performance. When this seminal collection first appeared, Schechner's approach was not only novel, it was revolutionary: drama is not just something that occurs on stage, but something that happens in everyday life, full of meaning, and on many different levels. Within these pages he examines the connections between Western and non-Western cultures, theatre and dance, anthropology, ritual, performance in everyday life, rites of passage, play, psychotherapy and shamanism. This cogent and provocative compilation of essays is now a classic text for students of the emergent discipline of performance studies. First Published in 1988. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.