Overview

Courageous artists working in conflict regions describe exemplary peacebuilding performances and groundbreaking theory on performance for transformation of violence. Acting Together: Performance and the Creative Transformation of Conflict is a two-volume work describing peacebuilding performances in regions beset by violence and internal conflicts. Volume I: Resistance and Reconciliation in Regions of Violence, emphasizes the role theatre and ritual play both in the midst and in the aftermath of direct violence, while Volume II: Building Just and Inclusive Communities, focuses on the transformative power of performance in regions fractured by ""subtler"" forms of structural violence and social exclusion. Volume I: Resistance and Reconciliation in Regions of Violence focuses on the role theatre and ritual play both in the midst and in the aftermath of violence. The performances highlighted in this volume nourish and restore capacities for expression, communication, and transformative action, and creatively support communities in grappling with conflicting moral imperatives surrounding questions of justice, memory, resistance, and identity. The individual chapters, written by scholars, conflict resolution practitioners, and artists who work directly with the communities involved, offer vivid firsthand accounts and analyses of traditional and nontraditional performances in Serbia, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Israel, Argentina, Peru, India, Cambodia, Australia, and the United States. Complemented by a website of related materials, a documentary film, Acting Together on the World Stage, that features clips and interviews with the curators and artists, and a toolkit, or ""Tools for Continuing the Conversation,"" that is included with the documentary as a second disc, this book will inform and inspire socially engaged artists, cultural workers, peacebuilding scholars and practitioners, human rights activists, students of peace and justice studies, and whoever wishes to better understand conflict and the power of art to bring about social change. The Acting Together project is born of a collaboration between Theatre Without Borders and the Program in Peacebuilding and the Arts at the International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life at Brandeis University. The two volumes are edited by Cynthia E. Cohen, director of the aforementioned program and a leading figure in creative approaches to coexistence and reconciliation; Roberto Gutierrez Varea, an award-winning director and associate professor at the University of San Francisco; and Polly O. Walker, director of Partners in Peace, an NGO based in Brisbane, Australia..

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9780981559391

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Reviews

The recommendations of the Acting Together project are clear, grounded and convincing. The editors have demonstrated that performance can significantly contribute to the transformation of violent conflict, and can reach audiences that are inaccessible by other means. It also has the potential to support communities in mourning, those dealing with trauma and those celebrating resilience. Aesthetic excellence reinforces socio-political effectiveness if the integrity of the artistic process is respected. This comprises a strong argument for more peacebuilders to recognize and incorporate performance into their initiatives and for artists and peace-builders to explore their respective practices together. The recommendation of respecting the integrity of the artistic process will hopefully be a reminder for funders and NGOs to trust that the creative process of the performance will provide a transformative experience without the need for heavy-handed programmatic messages to be incorporated into the end-product.Finally, the anthology fills an important niche in connecting performers and peace practitioners. In the field of conflict resolution, artistic and creative initiatives are still seen as somewhat exotic, and are sometimes questioned with regards to their effectiveness. This has led to feelings of isolation and self-doubt among some practitioners. This anthology opens the curtain to showcase the beneficial effects of performance for creative conflict transformation and validates the courage, skill and determination of its proponents. For the first time, the anthology and the Acting Together project provide a platform for peace-building artists to connect and to reflect on their work together with other scholars and practitioners. That in itself is already a significant achievement of the editors and curators of this complex and fascinating collection.--Serge Loode Applied Theatre Research

Advance Praise Acting Together places before us the human story unfolding. It invites us to penetrate through the mask to the source and the vibrating essence of voice on the journey to find our way back to humanity. --John Paul Lederach, Professor of International Peacebuilding, University of Notre Dame An invaluable resource for the community of practitioners, students, scholars, and activists who are interested in the role of the arts in overcoming the worst of contemporary violence, war, and disaster. --James Thompson, Professor of Applied and Social Theatre, University of Manchester Thanks to the vision and the courageous creativity of the theatre artists across the world who have been willing to share their practice, we in Northern Ireland have new tools to help us excavate our truths and our troubled pasts, to speak to them and to dare to envision a future where our broken world will be healed. --Pauline Ross, Artistic Director, Derry Playhouse, Northern Ireland This book opens even narrowly focused minds to understanding how our global capacity to dream, touch, dance, and feel is a power source, one able to move people from what they know to what they can know, from what they have been told or forced to be to what they can become. For those of us working on the frontline of conflict resolution and reconciliation, this book demonstrates a universal that should and can be understood by students, practitioners, teachers, and the world at large. --Dee L. Aker, Deputy Director, Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, University of San Diego This publication is long overdue and will serve theatre students, directors, foundations, community-based theatres, and artist-based theatres as a much-needed guide to the complex, multilayered world of intercultural performance and conflict resolution. --Frank Hentschker, Executive Director, Martin E. Segal Theatre Center, The CUNY Graduate Center A significant addition to an emerging field of expertise--performance and conflict. It is difficult not to be inspired by the sheer diversity and versatility of the practices explored. --Michael Balfour, Chair in Applied and Social Theatre, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia Acting Together will shift perspectives and change lives. It could transform the trajectory of human conflicts. --Dr. Michelle LeBaron, University of British Columbia School of Law, Canada Justice before reconciliation! Truth commissions, criminal trials, and the payment of reparations to victims, alongside amnesty for certain categories of perpetrators, provide the foundation upon which the long-term process of reconciliation can begin. But by what means can lasting peace and security be achieved? In this book, Cohen, Varea, and Walker provide us with an awe-inspiring array of creative gestures designed to do just that. I strongly recommend this text to all those who are actively engaged at a grassroots level in promoting coexistence, and to those engaged in the advanced study of this most important of topics. --Ian McIntosh, Director of International Partnerships, Office of International Affairs, Indiana University Expert Reviews For the first time, the anthology and the Acting Together project provide a platform for peace-building artists to connect and to reflect on their work together with other scholars and practitioners. That in itself is already a significant achievement of the editors and curators of this complex and fascinating collection. --Serge Loode, Applied Theatre Research Advance Praise Acting Together places before us the human story unfolding. It invites us to penetrate through the mask to the source and the vibrating essence of voice on the journey to find our way back to humanity. --John Paul Lederach, Professor of International Peacebuilding, University of Notre Dame An invaluable resource for the community of practitioners, students, scholars, and activists who are interested in the role of the arts in overcoming the worst of contemporary violence, war, and disaster. --James Thompson, Professor of Applied and Social Theatre, University of Manchester Thanks to the vision and the courageous creativity of the theatre artists across the world who have been willing to share their practice, we in Northern Ireland have new tools to help us excavate our truths and our troubled pasts, to speak to them and to dare to envision a future where our broken world will be healed. --Pauline Ross, Artistic Director, Derry Playhouse, Northern Ireland This book opens even narrowly focused minds to understanding how our global capacity to dream, touch, dance, and feel is a power source, one able to move people from what they know to what they can know, from what they have been told or forced to be to what they can become. For those of us working on the frontline of conflict resolution and reconciliation, this book demonstrates a universal that should and can be understood by students, practitioners, teachers, and the world at large. --Dee L. Aker, Deputy Director, Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, University of San Diego This publication is long overdue and will serve theatre students, directors, foundations, community-based theatres, and artist-based theatres as a much-needed guide to the complex, multilayered world of intercultural performance and conflict resolution. --Frank Hentschker, Executive Director, Martin E. Segal Theatre Center, The CUNY Graduate Center A significant addition to an emerging field of expertise--performance and conflict. It is difficult not to be inspired by the sheer diversity and versatility of the practices explored. --Michael Balfour, Chair in Applied and Social Theatre, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia Acting Together will shift perspectives and change lives. It could transform the trajectory of human conflicts. --Dr. Michelle LeBaron, University of British Columbia School of Law, Canada Justice before reconciliation! Truth commissions, criminal trials, and the payment of reparations to victims, alongside amnesty for certain categories of perpetrators, provide the foundation upon which the long-term process of reconciliation can begin. But by what means can lasting peace and security be achieved? In this book, Cohen, Varea, and Walker provide us with an awe-inspiring array of creative gestures designed to do just that. I strongly recommend this text to all those who are actively engaged at a grassroots level in promoting coexistence, and to those engaged in the advanced study of this most important of topics. --Ian McIntosh, Director of International Partnerships, Office of International Affairs, Indiana University Expert Reviews For the first time, the anthology and the Acting Together project provide a platform for peace-building artists to connect and to reflect on their work together with other scholars and practitioners. That in itself is already a significant achievement of the editors and curators of this complex and fascinating collection. --Serge Loode, Applied Theatre Research The recommendations of the Acting Together project are clear, grounded and convincing. The editors have demonstrated that performance can significantly contribute to the transformation of violent conflict, and can reach audiences that are inaccessible by other means. It also has the potential to support communities in mourning, those dealing with trauma and those celebrating resilience. Aesthetic excellence reinforces socio-political effectiveness if the integrity of the artistic process is respected. This comprises a strong argument for more peacebuilders to recognize and incorporate performance into their initiatives and for artists and peace-builders to explore their respective practices together. The recommendation of respecting the integrity of the artistic process will hopefully be a reminder for funders and NGOs to trust that the creative process of the performance will provide a transformative experience without the need for heavy-handed programmatic messages to be incorporated into the end-product. Finally, the anthology fills an important niche in connecting performers and peace practitioners. In the field of conflict resolution, artistic and creative initiatives are still seen as somewhat exotic, and are sometimes questioned with regards to their effectiveness. This has led to feelings of isolation and self-doubt among some practitioners. This anthology opens the curtain to showcase the beneficial effects of performance for creative conflict transformation and validates the courage, skill and determination of its proponents. For the first time, the anthology and the Acting Together project provide a platform for peace-building artists to connect and to reflect on their work together with other scholars and practitioners. That in itself is already a significant achievement of the editors and curators of this complex and fascinating collection. --Serge Loode Applied Theatre Research Advance Praise -Acting Together places before us the human story unfolding. It invites us to penetrate through the mask to the source and the vibrating essence of voice on the journey to find our way back to humanity.---John Paul Lederach, Professor of International Peacebuilding, University of Notre Dame -An invaluable resource for the community of practitioners, students, scholars, and activists who are interested in the role of the arts in overcoming the worst of contemporary violence, war, and disaster.---James Thompson, Professor of Applied and Social Theatre, University of Manchester -Thanks to the vision and the courageous creativity of the theatre artists across the world who have been willing to share their practice, we in Northern Ireland have new tools to help us excavate our truths and our troubled pasts, to speak to them and to dare to envision a future where our broken world will be healed.---Pauline Ross, Artistic Director, Derry Playhouse, Northern Ireland -This book opens even narrowly focused minds to understanding how our global capacity to dream, touch, dance, and feel is a power source, one able to move people from what they know to what they can know, from what they have been told or forced to be to what they can become. For those of us working on the frontline of conflict resolution and reconciliation, this book demonstrates a universal that should and can be understood by students, practitioners, teachers, and the world at large.---Dee L. Aker, Deputy Director, Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, University of San Diego -This publication is long overdue and will serve theatre students, directors, foundations, community-based theatres, and artist-based theatres as a much-needed guide to the complex, multilayered world of intercultural performance and conflict resolution.---Frank Hentschker, Executive Director, Martin E. Segal Theatre Center, The CUNY Graduate Center -A significant addition to an emerging field of expertise--performance and conflict. It is difficult not to be inspired by the sheer diversity and versatility of the practices explored.---Michael Balfour, Chair in Applied and Social Theatre, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia -Acting Together will shift perspectives and change lives. It could transform the trajectory of human conflicts.---Dr. Michelle LeBaron, University of British Columbia School of Law, Canada -Justice before reconciliation! Truth commissions, criminal trials, and the payment of reparations to victims, alongside amnesty for certain categories of perpetrators, provide the foundation upon which the long-term process of reconciliation can begin. But by what means can lasting peace and security be achieved? In this book, Cohen, Varea, and Walker provide us with an awe-inspiring array of creative gestures designed to do just that. I strongly recommend this text to all those who are actively engaged at a grassroots level in promoting coexistence, and to those engaged in the advanced study of this most important of topics.---Ian McIntosh, Director of International Partnerships, Office of International Affairs, Indiana University Expert Reviews -For the first time, the anthology and the Acting Together project provide a platform for peace-building artists to connect and to reflect on their work together with other scholars and practitioners. That in itself is already a significant achievement of the editors and curators of this complex and fascinating collection.---Serge Loode, Applied Theatre Research

<br>Advance Praise <br> Acting Together places before us the human story unfolding. It invites us to penetrate through the mask to the source and the vibrating essence of voice on the journey to find our way back to humanity. <br>--John Paul Lederach, Professor of International Peacebuilding, University of Notre Dame <br> An invaluable resource for the community of practitioners, students, scholars, and activists who are interested in the role of the arts in overcoming the worst of contemporary violence, war, and disaster. <br>--James Thompson, Professor of Applied and Social Theatre, University of Manchester <br> Thanks to the vision and the courageous creativity of the theatre artists across the world who have been willing to share their practice, we in Northern Ireland have new tools to help us excavate our truths and our troubled pasts, to speak to them and to dare to envision a future where our broken world will be healed. <br>--Pauline Ross, Artistic Director, Derry Playhouse, Northern Ireland <br> This book opens even narrowly focused minds to understanding how our global capacity to dream, touch, dance, and feel is a power source, one able to move people from what they know to what they can know, from what they have been told or forced to be to what they can become. For those of us working on the frontline of conflict resolution and reconciliation, this book demonstrates a universal that should and can be understood by students, practitioners, teachers, and the world at large. <br>--Dee L. Aker, Deputy Director, Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, University of San Diego <br> This publication is long overdue and will serve theatre students, directors, foundations, community-based theatres, and artist-based theatres as a much-needed guide to the complex, multilayered world of intercultural performance and conflict resolution. <br>--Frank Hentschker, Executive Director, Martin E. Segal Theatre Center, The CUNY Graduate Center <br> A

Author Information

Cynthia E. Cohen is director of the Program in Peacebuilding and the Arts at the International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life at Brandeis University. Roberto Gutiérrez Varea began his career in theater in his native Argentina. His research and creative work focuses on live performance as means of resistance and peacebuilding, in the context of social conflict and state violence. Polly O. Walker is assistant professor of peace and conflict studies at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. She is director of Partners in Peacebuilding, a private consulting organization based in Brisbane, Australia, and lectures widely on intercultural conflict resolution. Charles Mulekwa is an award-winning playwright, performer, composer, and producer.

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