Freebody K., Balfour M., Finneran M., Anderson M. (Eds.) Applied Theatre: Understanding Change

Springer, 2018. — 187 p. — (Landscapes: the Arts, Aesthetics, and Education 22). — ISBN: 3319781774.This volume offers researchers and practitioners new perspectives on applied theatre work, exploring the relationship between applied theatre and its intent, success and value. Applied theatre is a well-established field focused on the social application of the arts in a range of contexts including schools, prisons, residential aged care and community settings. The increased uptake of applied theatre in these contexts requires increased analysis and understanding of indications of success and value. This volume provides critical commentary and questions regarding issues associated with developing, delivering and evaluating applied theatre programs.
Part 1 of the volume presents a discussion of the ways the concept of change is presented to and by funding bodies, practitioners, participants, researchers and policy makers to discover and analyse the relationships between applied theatre practice, transformative intent, and evaluation. Part 2 of the volume offers perspectives from key authors in the field which extend and contextualize the discussion by examining key themes and practice-based examples.What Is Applied Theatre Good for? Exploring the Notions of Success, Intent and Impact
Theories of Change: Cultural Value and Applied Theatre
Language and the Concept of Change: Overview of Leximancer Analysis
Values, Intentions, Success and Impact in Applied Theatre Documents
Critical Perspectives on Applied Theatre for Social Change: Defamilarising Key Words in the Field
Introduction to the invited chapters
No “Bullshit”: Rigor and Evaluation of Applied Theatre Projects
Change and Continuity in Applied Theatre: Lessons Learnt from ‘the Longest Night’
In the Interstice of Intension and Intention of Transformation: Where Applied Theatre Fosters Neoliberal Entrepreneurship
Hearing Children’s Voices: Is Anyone Listening?
Bottom’s Dream Applied Theatre: Anything Goes but what Stays?
Evaluation and the Theory of Change
Concluding Thoughts