Street theatre invades a public space, shakes it up and disappears, but the memory of the disruption haunts the site for audiences who experience it. This book looks at how the dynamic interrelationship of performance, participant and place creates a politicized aesthetic of public space that enables the public to rehearse democratic practices.

'...a very competent book and of clearly expressed conclusions.' - Joanna Ostrowska, New Theatre Quarterly

'Contemporary street arts on this continent, Susan Haedicke's compelling study suggests, effectively stage protests against prevailing politics and provide an aesthetic examination of the many social injustices that otherwise begin to sediment as 'normal'. - Professor Susan Bennett, Performance Research: A Journal of the Performing Arts

'As an experienced street arts witness myself, I found this book thoroughly engaging... An interesting read' - Tina Carter, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK

Autorentext

SUSAN HAEDICKE is Associate Professor in the School of Theatre, Performance, and Cultural Policy Studies at University of Warwick, UK. She has published several articles on European street arts and co-edited Political Performances and Performing Democracy: International Perspectives on Urban Community-Based Performance. She also works as a professional dramaturg.

Inhalt
List of Illustrations Series Preface Acknowledgements Preface: Into the Street Introduction: Aesthetics and Politics of Street Arts Interventions Looking Back: A Socio-Historical and Intellectual Context for Contemporary Street Arts in Europe Democratic Performatives and an Aesthetics of Public Space Performing Democracy on a Grand Scale Trespassing in Urban Places Subversive Imaginaries: Performing the Other Community Performance: Community Performatives Postscript: Beyond the Street Bibliography Index