Theatricality and Public Space

Theatre and performance study has, historically, introduced many fruitful analytical paradigms from adjacent disciplines to illuminate our work. This research group is interested in taking theatre and theatricality as frames to interpret aspects of the public sphere and political life. Our areas of interest may include such topics as: ‘theatricality’ in public space (riots, demonstrations, the political speech, testimony, legal and parliamentary process); performance and identity at the international border; spectacle and pageantry; public utterance and rhetoric; rethinking the ‘political’ theatre; questions of ‘appearance’ and ‘representation’ in the public sphere.

Key research themes:

• theatrical speech, rhetoric and ‘affect’
• performing publics
• borders and edges
• spectacle and the politics of commemoration