Overview

Theatre has played an important role in post-conflict northern Ireland, where it has been used by artists, communities, and organisations as a tool for political advocacy. This book provides an up-to-date assessment of the state of theatre in northern Ireland since the end of the conflict, across a period of complete transformation, from entrenched civil conflict to relative peace and prosperity. With a focus on applied theatre and works that use theatre as advocacy, the book investigates the ways the main communities in the region have used theatre to promote their agendas, combat prejudice, and deal with legacy issues of the conflict. It also explores the emergence of new theatres that reflect social and demographic changes in the post-conflict period, including theatre with migrants and minorities, LGBTQ and Irish language theatre. In doing so, it examines the crucial role that theatre (and by extension, arts) can play in processes of reconciliation. The book will prove valuable to students and academics in the fields of applied theatre, conflict studies, and arts for reconciliation. It will appeal also to the general reader with an interest in northern Irish politics and culture.

Full Product Details

Author:   Dónall Mac Cathmhaoill
Publisher:   University of Exeter Press
Imprint:   University of Exeter Press
Weight:   0.322kg
ISBN:  

9781804131138

ISBN 10:   180413113
Pages:   214
Publication Date:   08 April 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction   Prologue   Notes on terminologies   A brief history of northern Irish theatre   A note on sources Part I: Post-Conflict Theatre – Winning the Peace 1. A society in sea change 2. Theatre of resistance: nationalist and republican communities 3. A movement for unity: theatre for social change 4. ‘Making our voices heard’: advocacy theatre in the PUL community 5. Mediating the legacy: testimonial theatre and the documentary Part II: New Communities: New Identities 6. The changing faces of northern Ireland: migration and ethnicity 7. Queering northern Irish theatre: performance and LGBTQ+ rights 8. ‘Actors for any play’: the emergence of Irish language theatre Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Author Information

Dónall Mac Cathmhaoill is Lecturer in Creative Writing at the Open University. He has worked as a writer, director, designer, and producer in theatre for almost thirty years, including collaborations with many of the leading northern Irish companies. He was a director at the main independent producer, Tinderbox Theatre Company, and served on the boards of both Aisling Ghéar and Sole Purpose theatre companies. Previously he was a producer and Head of Education at Soho Theatre in London.

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