What is Political Theatre?

Political Theatre

Political Theatre is something that is meant to challenge you, as an audience member, to make you think and get involved. It can be thought provoking, or to challenge your ideas or even help strengthen your ideas. Political theatre can be there to shock - Bretch's advise to "slap and tickle" comes into play here, the idea to make light out of a serious situation but then smack the audience in the face (not literally, well maybe...) with a really hard hitting message. Political theatre can educate you into current or previous issues and takes your on a journey of discovery. 

Some examples of Political Plays:

The Crucible - Arthur Miller. During the 1950s/60s there was a persecution against pretty much anyone who had artistic value in America - McCarthyism reined over America - The Fear Of Communism. Arthur Miller wrote a play about the Salem Witch Trials which expressed the political idea that if you do not confess to being a witch (communist) then you must be one for denying it!

Conversations Not Suitable For The American Dinner Table - Tongue Tied Theatre - Sol Max - This was a production that used just masks and puppetry, really effective. It covered the issue of guns being legal in America - it was played by one person and there was no really protagonist of the play just a commotion of different stereotyping personalities with, in depth, funny or upsetting monologues. The use of the masks and puppets gave this V Effect to the performance. 

These are some example of Political theatre that raise awareness about contemporary issues. They prove that Political theatre is there to challenge you and to show politics from different perspectives - and insightful and clever way to be active about current issues.