The Problem of Theatrical Autonomy: Analysing Theatre as a Social Practice

As any devoted theatergoer will attest, watching a performance is a unique experience, as the social setting, rules, and standards of theater often combine to create a feeling of liberation from the everyday world. This book explores the phenomenon of theater as simultaneously distinct from and yet connected to society as a whole. Combining theoretical reflections with materials from European case studies, the authors offer intriguing new methods for the sociological study of theater while contributing equally to theater and performance studies.