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Political Theatre

Content here focuses on theatremakers, companies, and projects engaging with politics and political action. A great example of the power of this work is the video series Political Theatre as a Civil Right from the British-Romanian political theatre company BÉZNĂ Theatre.

The Latest

Viewpoints for Achieving Authentic Representation of Roma Communities on Stage
Essay
Viewpoints for Achieving Authentic Representation of Roma Communities on Stage
by Tímea Éva Bogya, Márton Illés
27 March 2024
Should We Write Differently About Roma Theatre?
Essay
Should We Write Differently About Roma Theatre?
by Noémi Herczog, Éva Moharos
25 March 2024
How LUNG Is Breathing Radical Joy into Theatre in the United Kingdom
Essay
How LUNG Is Breathing Radical Joy into Theatre in the United Kingdom
by verity healey, Matt Woodhead, Helen Monks
5 March 2024
Lifting Up What We’re Throwing Down
Essay

Lifting Up What We’re Throwing Down

Company One’s Use of Amplify Language

23 June 2020

Kirsten Greenidge discusses how being the Playwright in Residence at Company One Theatre gave her a stronger appreciation for the work of the staff, particularly around speaking to the social justice goals of all the company’s programming.

Livestreaming a performance of Diana Oh's My H8 Letter To The Gr8 American Theatre
Video

Livestreaming a performance of Diana Oh's My H8 Letter To The Gr8 American Theatre

produced by Ma-Yi Theater Company in partnership with Aye Defy and HowlRound

Tuesday 16 June and Wednesday 17 June 2020
United States

Ma-Yi Theater Company, Aye Defy, and HowlRound present a performance of Diana Oh's My H8 Letter To The Gr8 American Theatre livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 16 June and Wednesday 17 June at 4:45 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 6:45 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 7:45 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

Grantmakers in the Arts Logo
Coronavirus Response: Building a future that reimagines systems for justice
Video

Coronavirus Response: Building a future that reimagines systems for justice

a conversation hosted by Grantmakers in the Arts

Tuesday 16 June 2020
United States

Grantmakers in the Arts presented the conversation Coronavirus Response: Building a future that reimagines systems for justice livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 16 June 2020 at 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

Collage of headshots of With Idris Goodwin, Lauren Gunderson, David Henry Hwang, Robert Schenkkan, and Karen Zacarías.
#ENOUGH presents The Inciting Incident: Playwriting in a Moment of Change - Panel Discussion
Video

#ENOUGH presents The Inciting Incident: Playwriting in a Moment of Change - Panel Discussion

With Idris Goodwin, Lauren Gunderson, David Henry Hwang, Robert Schenkkan, and Karen Zacarías

Tuesday 9 June 2020
United States

#ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence presented The Inciting Incident: Playwriting in a Moment of Change - Panel Discussion livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 9 June 2020 at 9 a.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC-10) / 11 a.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC-8) / 12 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC-6) / 2 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 3 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

Safe Havens Freedom Talks banner.
Safe Havens Freedom Talks: Ramy Essam and The Balaha Case
Video

Safe Havens Freedom Talks: Ramy Essam and The Balaha Case

Episode 1

Friday 5 June 2020
Egypt

Meet Ramy Essam, rock star, human rights defender and an important voice in the Egyptian revolution, in conversation on the Balaha case with Alfons Karabuda from UNESCO founded International Music Council (IMC), Andra Matei, Avant-Garde Lawyers – Defending Artists. Sanni Kahilainen, campaign leader and with Ole Reitov, consultant and founder of Freemuse as the moderator.

an actor onstage with a large projection behind her
In Search of Complexities
Essay

In Search of Complexities

Documentary Theatre in Today’s Russia

13 May 2020

Anastasia Patlay talks about creating documentary theatre with the Moscow-based company Teatr.doc.

two actors onstage
On Art and Activism
Essay

On Art and Activism

12 May 2020

Israel Aloni argues that the lack of governmental support for artists has pushed them to pursue activism but contends that art ought to remain independent of the civil-political sphere.

multiple brown sticky notes on a white surface
Willing Change in a World of Many Crises
Essay

Willing Change in a World of Many Crises

5 May 2020

Ragnhild Freng Dale questions what it means to talk about theatre, politics, and activism at a time when we all isolate our bodies from those of others.

two actors onstage
The Power of Transcripts
Essay

The Power of Transcripts

Waterwell and Immigration

22 April 2020

Lee Sunday Evans, the artistic director of New York City’s Waterwell, discusses the power of transcripts in performance, the topics of immigration and deportation, and the urgent attention that needs to be paid to the United States border right now.

hand sanitizer labeled "don't touch the art"
It Was Always Possible: Centering the Leaders Who Were Here All Along (ASL & Captioned)
Video

It Was Always Possible: Centering the Leaders Who Were Here All Along (ASL & Captioned)

an #ArtistResource talk with Rachel Spencer Hewitt (PAAL); Claudia Alick (CallingUP); Ashley Hanson (Department of Public Transformation); and more

Tuesday 7 April 2020
United States

Livestreaming the #ArtistResource panel It Was Always Possible: Centering the Leaders Who Were Here All Along (ASL & Captioned) on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 7 April 2020 at 8 a.m. HST (Honolulu, UST-10) / 10 a.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC-8) / 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

colored earth with text unsettling dramaturgies
Praxis Sessions for Virtual Collaboration: Land Acknowledgements
Video

Praxis Sessions for Virtual Collaboration: Land Acknowledgements

hosted by Unsettling Dramaturgy: Crip & Indigenous Dramaturgies ​​​​​​

Tuesday 31 March 2020
United States

Unsettling Dramaturgy presented Praxis Sessions for Virtual Collaboration: Land Acknowledgements livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 31 March 2020 at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

building against blue sky with red text poetry electric
Poetry Electric: Powerful Words/Powerful Women
Video

Poetry Electric: Powerful Words/Powerful Women

at La MaMa Experimental Theater in New York City

Monday 23 March 2020
New York City

La MaMa Experimental Theater and CultureHub presented Poetry Electric: Powerful Words/Powerful Women livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 23 March 2020 at 4:30 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 6:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 7:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

there must be happy endings book cover with black paintbrush strokes
Megan Sandberg-Zakian in conversation with Melinda Lopez
Video

Megan Sandberg-Zakian in conversation with Melinda Lopez

at Brookline Booksmith in Boston, Massachusetts

Monday 23 March 2020
Boston, Massachusetts

Brookline Booksmiths presented Megan Sandberg-Zakian in conversation with Melinda Lopez livestreaming on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 23 March 2020 at 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

yellow background with black re-fest text
Re-Fest NYC
Video

Re-Fest NYC

CultureHub’s annual festival brings artists, activists, and technologists together to envision our role in re-shaping the future

Thursday 12 March - Saturday 14 March 2020
New York City

CultureHub presented their annual festival Re-Fest livestreaming on the commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 12 March to Saturday 14 March 2020.

graphics of feminine heads with text good friday
A performance of the Texas premiere of Kristiana Rae Colón’s good friday
Video

A performance of the Texas premiere of Kristiana Rae Colón’s good friday

at the VORTEX in Austin, Texas

Friday 6 March 2020
Austin, Texas

The VORTEX and New Manifest Theatre Company presented the Texas premiere of Kristiana Rae Colón’s timely drama good friday, featuring an all-female cast and design team, livestreaming on the commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network on Friday 6 March 2020 at 9 p.m. EST (New York, UTC-8) / 8 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC-7) / 6 p.m. PST (Los Angeles, UTC-5).

WELCOME TO OUR SPACE? A Town Hall on Audience Interactions
Video

WELCOME TO OUR SPACE? A Town Hall on Audience Interactions

at Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley, California

Monday 2 March 2020
Berkeley, California

The Aurora Theatre Company presented WELCOME TO OUR SPACE? A Town Hall on Audience Interactions livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 2 March 2020 at 7 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC-8) / 9 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC-6) / 10 p.m. EST (New York, UTC-5).

three people writing on a large circular paper hanging on a wall
Visual Storytelling in Socially Engaged Performance
Essay

Visual Storytelling in Socially Engaged Performance

26 February 2020

Irina Kruzhilina discusses the importance of visuals as a means of expression in politically and socially engaged theatre.

actor holding money against yellow background
A performance of The Hands That Feed You by Annie Danger
Video

A performance of The Hands That Feed You by Annie Danger

at the VORTEX in Austin, Texas

Thursday 13 February 2020
Austin, Texas

The VORTEX presented the debut of Annie Danger’s new work, The Hands That Feed You, livestreamed on the commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network on Thursday 13 February 2020 at 9 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-8) / 8 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-7) / 6 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles, UTC-5).

three actors onstage
Moving Towards a Migratory Dramaturgy
Essay

Moving Towards a Migratory Dramaturgy

11 February 2020

Devika Ranjan talks about the ways in which migration can influence performance structures, what she has identified as “migratory dramaturgy.”

three actors onstage
Roma Futurism and the Future of Roma Theatre
Essay

Roma Futurism and the Future of Roma Theatre

An Interview with Mihaela Drăgan

10 February 2020

HowlRound’s director, Jamie Gahlon, talks with theatremaker Mihaela Drăgan about contemporary Roma theatre and the artistic movement Roma Futurism.

three actors onstage
Stories from America’s Death Row
Essay

Stories from America’s Death Row

A Conversation with Lynden Harris

29 January 2020

Summer Robinson interviews playwright Lynden Harris about her work creating theatre with men on death row across the United States.

two performers in red costumes with a backdrop of the moon.
"French and Yet Never French Enough" / « Français, mais jamais assez français »
Essay

"French and Yet Never French Enough" / « Français, mais jamais assez français »

Caribbean Playwrights Challenge the Monolith of French Identity / Les dramaturges caribéens disputent l’identité française monolithique

13 January 2020

Amelia Parenteau discusses the Actions Caribéennes Théâtrales festival, which brought together francophones, francophiles, and theatre folks from around the world to witness staged readings of six French Caribbean plays in English translation. / Amelia Parenteau parle du festival Actions Caribéennes Théâtrales (ACT), qui a rassemblé des francophones, francophiles et gens de théâtre de partout dans le monde pour assister aux lectures publiques de six pièces franco-caribéennes traduites en anglais.

an actor swinging above stage
Slovakia Searches for Itself at the International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra
Essay

Slovakia Searches for Itself at the International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra

15 December 2019

Kirsten Bowen reflects on Slovakia’s 2019 International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra, which was programmed based on the theme “faces of freedom.”

woman with flowers and branches titled The Weeping Woman's Contrived Posture
Livestreaming the National Performance Network Annual Conference 2019
Video

Livestreaming the National Performance Network Annual Conference 2019

from New Orleans, Louisiana

Tuesday 10 December - Friday 13 December 2019
New Orleans, Louisiana

The National Performance Network presents their 2019 Annual Conference livestreaming from New Orleans on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv from Tuesday 10 December to Friday 13 December 2019.

four actors onstage
Storytelling as an Act of Survival
Essay

Storytelling as an Act of Survival

The Tradition of Hakawati and its Influence on We Live in Cairo

10 December 2019

Lama El Homaïssi reflects on her experience working with American Repertory Theater on their musical We Live in Cairo, diving into representation in storytelling, the oral Hakawati tradition, and more.