The Applied Theatre Artist : Responsivity and Expertise in Practice

This book analyses the work of applied theatre practitioners using a new framework of ‘responsivity’ to make visible their unique expertise. In-depth investigation of practice combines with theorisation to provide a fresh view of the work of artists and facilitators. Case studies are drawn from community contexts: with women, mental health service users, refugees, adults with a learning disability, older people in care, and young people in school. Common skills and qualities are given a vocabulary to help define applied theatre work, such as awareness, anticipation, adaptation, attunement, and responsiveness. __The Applied Theatre Artist__ is of scholarly, practical, and educational interest. The book offers detailed analysis of how skilled theatre artists make in-action decisions within socially engaged participatory projects. Rich description of in-session activity reveals what workshop facilitators actually do and how they think, offering a rare focus in applied theatre. Front Matter ....Pages i-x Introducing Responsivity and the Applied Theatre Practitioner (Kay Hepplewhite)....Pages 1-44 The Applied Theatre Artist as Responsive Educator: Grafted Expertise and a Search for the ‘Golden Nugget’ (Kay Hepplewhite)....Pages 45-75 The Applied Theatre Practitioner as Responsive Activist: The Personal Is Political in a Feminist Approach (Kay Hepplewhite)....Pages 77-108 The Applied Theatre Practitioner as Responsive Clown: A ‘Beautiful Mistake’ in Learning Disability Theatre (Kay Hepplewhite)....Pages 109-137 The Applied Theatre Artist as Responsive Dialogue: The Art of Doing Little in a Creative Ageing Project (Kay Hepplewhite)....Pages 139-156 The Applied Theatre Practitioner as Responsive Performer: Defining the Role in Work with Young People (Kay Hepplewhite)....Pages 157-192 Responsivity and the Development of the Applied Theatre Practitioner (Kay Hepplewhite)....Pages 193-212 Back Matter ....Pages 213-229