Class and the problem of inequality in theatre

Theatre stakes a claim to represent individuals, communities, and nations. Yet both the workforce and the audience are marked by significant inequalities. There are absences of people of colour and those from working-class origins, along with significant gender inequalities in specific roles and spe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Studies in theatre and performance 2020-09, Vol.40 (3), p.242-250
Main Author: O'Brien, Dave
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Class
cultural and creative industries
inequality
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Summary:Theatre stakes a claim to represent individuals, communities, and nations. Yet both the workforce and the audience are marked by significant inequalities. There are absences of people of colour and those from working-class origins, along with significant gender inequalities in specific roles and specific productions. Awareness of these issues has, in part, been driven by recent research from social science. The techniques from social science that make inequalities visible can be at odds with the preferred modes of understanding inequality favoured by theatre practitioners. This paper is situated at the intersection of social scientific and theatre practice, considering the potential and pitfalls of methods of making inequality visible. In doing so, it frames the discussions that follow in the special issue, as well as suggesting ways that theatre and social science might have productive working partnerships.
ISSN:1468-2761
2040-0616
DOI:10.1080/14682761.2020.1807212