Drama/Theatre and Democratisation: What Two Revolutions Reveal

Abstract

This paper will assert that drama/theatre has a role to play in the democratisation process by presenting research that reveals how various forms of drama/theatre practice coincide with democratisation or its opposite, de-democratisation. Correlation between the use of monologic and dialogic discourses within drama/theatre practice and the process of democratisation will be evidenced in two case studies: the early years of the French Revolution and the 1989 Velvet Revolution in (the former) Czechoslovakia. By analysing the conditions and patterns of theatre practice that coincided with the democratisation of these two countries (and in one case, away from it soon after), parallels emerge between monologic discourses within drama/theatre and de-democratisation, and dialogic discourses within drama/theatre and democratisation. The great experiment of liberal democracy is an ongoing process that can be buttressed by process-based theatre practices that exemplify theatre’s ability to foster dialogue and create community amongst participants.

Communication of Cultural Heritage Through Performing Art: Theatre and Memories of Former Mental Asylums

“…Traditional theatre performances are considered one the important ways in the creation of a relationship with a particular discourse, and they contain many other arts varying from music to dance through acting and interacting with others helping people to feel, empathize and experience the culture, history, and the place. Theatre performances have been used to educate, communicate, and entertain people since ancient times, and the places of theatre and avenues have been considered public spheres to create dialogues (Grile, 2021;.…”