Provocative and Transformative Performance

What tools do performers use to provoke their
audiences to change?
What is the nature and potential extent of this
change? Provocative
and Transformative Performance looks at the potential of
performance to provoke attitudinal and behavioural
change.
Through a combination of theoretical and practical
research, it
attempts to locate specific characteristics of
performances that may
be both provocative and transformative. Alchemy
permeates the
book, weaving through the analysis as a metaphor for
transformation. The alchemical moment of projection is particularly significant; this is the
climax, the final
operation before gold is achieved. This book is a
methodological
and evaluative engagement with provocative and
transformative
performance, taking into account the intention of the
performer, the
instrumentation performers employ in order to provoke
and
transform their audiences, and the potential
illumination of an issue
for the audience through performance. Through this
theoretical
framework, it aims to throw light on the ways in
which performance
can provoke transformation.

Autorentext

Tessa Needham completed Bachelor of Arts (Theatre Theory &Practice), Bachelor of Performance, Theory & Practice (Honours) and PhD degrees at theUniversity of Western Sydney, Australia. She is now an independent scholar.

Klappentext

What tools do performers use to provoke theiraudiences to change?What is the nature and potential extent of thischange? Provocative and Transformative Performance looks at the potential of performance to provoke attitudinal and behaviouralchange. Through a combination of theoretical and practicalresearch, it attempts to locate specific characteristics ofperformances that may be both provocative and transformative. Alchemypermeates the book, weaving through the analysis as a metaphor for transformation. The alchemical moment of 'projection' is particularly significant; this is theclimax, the final operation before gold is achieved. This book is amethodological and evaluative engagement with provocative andtransformative performance, taking into account the intention of theperformer, the instrumentation performers employ in order to provokeand transform their audiences, and the potentialillumination of an issue for the audience through performance. Through thistheoretical framework, it aims to throw light on the ways inwhich performance can provoke transformation.