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9780824835842

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Reviews

Catherine Diamond offers a dynamic portrait of contemporary South East Asian theatre that is at once expansive in scope and remarkably detailed in depth. . . . deeply insightful and accessible to readers.-- Theatre Research International The strength of this book lies in the vivid descriptions of a variety of performances that favor neither traditional nor contemporary performance genres--but rather examine theatre in Southeast Asia as a multilayered tapestry. . . . Catherine Diamond has written a book that provides both dynamic descriptions and insightful analysis of many different theatrical forms, histories, and cultures. It is a useful book for those with a scholarly interest in Asian performance, Southeast Asian culture and history, or trends in contemporary global performance.-- Asian Theatre Journal Each of the nine chapters is a rich and well-informed overview of some of the main themes of contemporary theatre (well illustrated by keen analytical descriptions of several particular performances), as well as of the travails of traditional and hybrid forms which are typically fossilized by governments seeking to preserve national cultural heritages for their own ends, ignored by governments in other cases, or incorporated in part into experimental contemporary theatre works. This is the great strength of Diamond's book. Her research, carried out over nearly two decades, shows tremendous depth and richness. . . . Communities of Imagination is sure to function as a truly useful reference for any scholar interested in the performing arts of Southeast Asia. -- Pacific Affairs

Catherine Diamond offers a dynamic portrait of contemporary South East Asian theatre that is at once expansive in scope and remarkably detailed in depth. . . . deeply insightful and accessible to readers.-- Theatre Research International

The strength of this book lies in the vivid descriptions of a variety of performances that favor neither traditional nor contemporary performance genres--but rather examine theatre in Southeast Asia as a multilayered tapestry. . . . Catherine Diamond has written a book that provides both dynamic descriptions and insightful analysis of many different theatrical forms, histories, and cultures. It is a useful book for those with a scholarly interest in Asian performance, Southeast Asian culture and history, or trends in contemporary global performance.-- Asian Theatre Journal Each of the nine chapters is a rich and well-informed overview of some of the main themes of contemporary theatre (well illustrated by keen analytical descriptions of several particular performances), as well as of the travails of traditional and hybrid forms which are typically fossilized by governments seeking to preserve national cultural heritages for their own ends, ignored by governments in other cases, or incorporated in part into experimental contemporary theatre works. This is the great strength of Diamond's book. Her research, carried out over nearly two decades, shows tremendous depth and richness. . . . Communities of Imagination is sure to function as a truly useful reference for any scholar interested in the performing arts of Southeast Asia. -- Pacific Affairs Catherine Diamond offers a dynamic portrait of contemporary South East Asian theatre that is at once expansive in scope and remarkably detailed in depth. . . . deeply insightful and accessible to readers.-- Theatre Research International

Author Information

Catherine Diamond is professor of theatre at Soochow University in Taipei, Taiwan, and director of the Kinnari Ecological Theatre Project in Southeast Asia.

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