What is Theatre?

Introduction

This book is about what theatre is and what it might be. It gives a great deal of information and explains many ideas, but it does not tell readers what to think. Above all other aims, I want to set readers thinking about theatre for themselves, as their view of theatre becomes wider and more complete.

Anyone can take a published play from the shelf and read the words that actors have spoken on the stage. This is a very convenient way of starting serious study of theatre and, while studying What Is Theatre? readers are encouraged to read, and probably reread, a number of plays, giving preference to those that can be seen in performance. Yet reading play texts alone is not enough for students who are exploring what theatre is in ...