Ecologies of Precarity in Twenty-First Century Theatre: Politics, Affect, Responsibility

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Presenting a rigorous critical investigation of the reinvigoration of the political in contemporary British theatre, Ecologies of Precarity in Twenty-First Century Theatre provides a fresh understanding of how theatre has engaged with precarity, affect, risk, intimacy, care and relationality in recent times. The study makes a compelling case for reading precarity as a ‘sticky’ theatrical trope which carries the potential to re-animate our understanding of identity politics and responsibility for the lives of Others in an age of uncertainty. Approaching precarity as an ecology cutting across various practices, themes and aesthetics, the book features a comprehensive selection of theatre examples staged in the UK since the 1990s. Works by debbie tucker green, Alistair McDowall, Complicite, Simon Stephens, Stan’s Cafe, Mike Bartlett, Caryl Churchill, The Paper Birds, and Belarus Free Theatre are put in dialogue with interdisciplinary feminist vocabularies developed by Judith Butler, Sara Ahmed, Lauren Berlant and Isabell Lorey. In focusing on areas such as children and youth at risk, human rights, environmental ethics and the politics of debt, the study makes a vital contribution to the burgeoning field of politics and theatre in the 21st century. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Dedication Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction Precarity, affect, responsibility Precarity, theatre, politics Mapping Ecologies of Precarity 1. Promises of Happiness and Cruel Optimisms: Theatre in the 1990s Cruel Britannia, affect and intimate politics On ow(n)ing: Mark Ravenhill, Shopping and Fucking Cruel attachments: Phyllis Nagy, Never Land Fairy tales for adults: Caryl Churchill, The Skriker Conclusion 2. Children and Young People at Risk Children and young people on the British stage From ‘childhood crisis’ to ‘masculinity in crisis’: Mike Bartlett, My Child Feeling normal: Dennis Kelly, Debris and Philip Ridley, Mercury Fur Race and vulnerability: Mojisola Adebayo, Desert Boy Ecologies of pain and grief: Simon Stephens, Sea Wall and debbie tucker green, random Conclusion 3. ‘A Glimpse into Some Other World’: Imagining Slow Violence in the Anthropocene The atrical challenges and anxious hopes in the age of the Anthropocene Politics of dystopia: Caryl Churchill, Far Away and Alistair McDowall, X Vital materialisms: Stan’s Cafe, Of All the People in All the World Border-crossings: Transport Theatre, The Edge Intimacy and proximity: Complicite, The Encounter Conclusion 4. Framing Human Rights Human rights, spectatorship and theatre Impressions of terror: Dennis Kelly, Osama the Hero Ambivalent ethics: debbie tucker green, hang Politics of freedom and dissent: Belarus Free Theatre, Trash Cuisine and DV8, Can We Talk about This? Conclusion 5. (Dis)possession, Debt and Economies of Value Neo-liberal economies and the theatre maker as precarious worker Debt, value and justice: Stan’s Cafe, The Just Price of Flowers Waste, value and white masculinity: Leo Butler, Boy Female dispossessions: Clean Break, Joanne and The Paper Birds, Broke On protest: Theatre Uncut Conclusion Afterword: On Hoping Notes References Index