Performance and Community Commentary and Case Studies

Focusing on the work of various arts organisations working in specific community contexts in the UK, but which have links and reputations overseas also, Community Theatre Matters will be an edited collection of case studies and interviews conducted by leading academics and practitioners, giving unprecedented access into the working practices of companies who are pioneering work in educational, community and social contexts. Much of this information and insights are not available to the general public audience. What happens during the artistic process? What choices are made about the form of theatre practice, the participants, the space, the content of the project? Why are those decisions made? What are the politics of this? This book will prove a unique and much-needed resource for anyone studying or working in any area of community theatre.Companies include Magic Me, Clean Break, The Grass Market Project, People's Palace Projects, Phakama, The Lawnmowers. Contributors include Dr Richard Ings, Sue Mayo, Louise Owen, Ali Campbell.Interviews include Paul Heritage (People's Palace Projects), Lois Weaver (Split Britches/Gay Sweatshop), Tony Fegan, Gerri Moriarty and Mojisola Adebayo.

Caoimhe McAvinchey is the convenor of the MA programme in Applied Theatre at Queen Mary, University of London, and a visiting lecturer in Applied Theatre at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Prior to this, she established and convened the MA Applied Drama programme at Goldsmiths College. Her research investigates performance work with and for children and young people; training and development of artists working in community and educational settings; and the relationship between prison, punishment and performance.