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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
portraits of Tania El Khoury & Gideon Lester
SEGAL TALKS with Tania El Khoury & Gideon Lester (United States)
Video

SEGAL TALKS with Tania El Khoury & Gideon Lester (United States)

Daily live online conversations on US and global theatre & performance

Thursday 1 October 2020
United States

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented Segal Talks with Tania El Khoury & Gideon Lester (United States) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 1 October 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC +1) / 18:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC +2).

portrait of richard o'neill
The Hardest Word (Scotland)
Video

The Hardest Word (Scotland)

As part of the Roma Theatre Retrospective 2020

Wednesday 30 September 2020
Scotland, United Kingdom

Independent Theater Hungary presented a performance and conversation around The Hardest Word (Scotland) as part of the Roma Theatre Retrospective 2020 livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 30 September 2020 at 9:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 12:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 17:30 BST (London, UTC +1) / 18:30 CEST (Budapest, UTC +2) / 19:30 EEST (Bucharest, UTC +3).

actor in black shirt on stage
You Didn’t See Anything! (Romania)
Video

You Didn’t See Anything! (Romania)

As part of the Roma Theatre Retrospective 2020

Monday 28 September 2020
Romania

Independent Theater Hungary presented a conversation around You Didn’t See Anything! (Romania) as part of the Roma Theatre Retrospective 2020 livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 28 September 2020 at 9:30 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 12:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 17:30 BST (London, UTC +1) / 18:30 CEST (Budapest, UTC +2) / 19:30 EEST (Bucharest, UTC +3).

Collage of photos of people including James Baldin, Matthew Shepard, event title and subtitle.
A reading of Strange Fruit, Part II by Jon Bastian
Video

A reading of Strange Fruit, Part II by Jon Bastian

with LA Writers Center's "Breathe" online play reading series

Saturday 26 September 2020
United States

LA Writers Center presented a reading of Strange Fruit: Part II by Jon Bastian as a part of their "Breathe" online play reading series livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 26 September 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).

event description text with photo of street in chile
Conversations on Playwriting and Social Unrest in Chile
Video

Conversations on Playwriting and Social Unrest in Chile

A discussion of Chile’s exciting feminist vanguard and the performance of gender in Chilean theatre

Friday 25 September 2020
United States

The Theatre Arts and Latin American and Latinx Studies Programs at the University of Pennsylvania and Interdram, the Theatrical Platform for New Playwriting, presented the first of two Conversations on Playwriting and Social Unrest in Chile livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 25 September 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 1 p.m. CLST (Santiago, UTC -3).

artists onstage under green light
A Performance of Re-Re-Generation
Video

A Performance of Re-Re-Generation

Re-imagining performances originally created for Re-Fest 2020, CultureHub’s annual festival that brings together artists, technologists, and activists

Saturday 19 September 2020
Los Angeles, California

CultureHub LA presented a performance Re-Re-Generation livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 19 September 2020 at 7 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles, UTC -7) / 9 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 10 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

photo of man walking through trees
A performance of Fuglen, der (The Bird, There)
Video

A performance of Fuglen, der (The Bird, There)

A new story about queer sexuality and re-traumatisation of the queer body by the COVID-19 pandemic, by award-winning film maker and live artist Lasse Lau

Friday 18 September 2020
United Kingdom

performingbordersLIVE20 and Warehouse9 presented a performance of Fuglen, der (The Bird, There), new work by Danish filmmaker and artist Lasse Lau livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 18 September 2020 at 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 7 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1) / 20:00 CEST (UTC+2).

poster with pictures of Samantha Figgins, Antoine Hunter, and the event description text.
#DeafWoke: An Evening with Samantha Figgins
Video

#DeafWoke: An Evening with Samantha Figgins

Samantha shares her #DeafWoke journey as a Black Hard of Hearing woman and professional dancer

Thursday 17 September 2020
United States

Urban Jazz Dance Company presented #DeafWoke: An Evening w/ Samantha Figgins livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 17 September 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).

a chess board being video recorded
Making Theatre, or Something Else Entirely, in a Pandemic
Essay

Making Theatre, or Something Else Entirely, in a Pandemic

On Protests and Virtual Performance

16 September 2020

Soyica Colbert sits down with playwright Natsu Onoda Power to talk about protesting against the United States military presence in Okinawa, Japan; in-person audiences versus virtual ones, Natsu’s new piece Okiniawa Demo Reel, and more.

graphic hands holding letters B U I L D with title text
Build from Here: The Future of Ensemble Theater with FoolsFURY Theater Company
Video

Build from Here: The Future of Ensemble Theater with FoolsFURY Theater Company

Conversations and workshops about labor ethics and project finance reform, design and technology, education, accessibility, and equity and diversity from story selection and development to casting.

Saturday 12 September and Sunday 13 September 2020
United States

FoolsFURY Theater Company presented its national convening of ensemble theater makers BUILD from Here: The Future of Ensemble Theater livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 12 September and Sunday 13 September 2020.

actors on stage with text PLAYS TO PROGRESS
Plays to Progress with Cori Thomas
Video

Plays to Progress with Cori Thomas

A brief performance followed by a conversation about the resonance of Lockdown, a work by Cori Thomas launched at the O’Neill

Wednesday 9 September 2020
United States

Eugene O'Neill Theater Center presented Plays to Progress with Cori Thomas livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 9 September at 3 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 5 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 6 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

Glod in red, a silhouette of a person with their arm raised.
Ashtar Theatre’s Oranges and Stones
Video

Ashtar Theatre’s Oranges and Stones

A screening and discussion of a play without words that portrays the reality of persecution in Palestine

Monday 31 August 2020
International

Glod: Political Theatre as a Civil Right presented a screening and conversation on Ashtar Theatre’s Oranges and Stones livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 31 August 2020 at 10 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 1 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 6 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 8 p.m. EEST (Cluj, UTC +3).

black and white poster of historical figures' faces
A reading of Strange Fruit, Part 1 by Jon Bastian
Video

A reading of Strange Fruit, Part 1 by Jon Bastian

with LA Writers Center's "Breathe" online play reading series

Saturday 29 August 2020
United States

LA Writers Center presented a reading of Strange Fruit by Jon Bastian as a part of their "Breathe" online play reading series livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv beginning Saturday 29 August 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).

Glod in red, a silhouette of a person with their arm raised.
A Discussion on Peace by Piece by Nabil Sawalha
Video

A Discussion on Peace by Piece by Nabil Sawalha

Part of BÉZNĂ Theatre's GLOD: Political Theatre as a Civil Right series

Monday 17 August 2020
International

Glod: Political Theatre as a Civil Right presented Peace by Piece by Nabil Sawalha livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 17 August 2020 at 10 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 1 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 6 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 8 p.m. EEST (Cluj, UTC +3).

text: jeannette, or how to make a musical in a pandemic. six headshots of the event participants.
Arts + Activism: Jeannette and Making Political Musical Theatre
Video

Arts + Activism: Jeannette and Making Political Musical Theatre

with Ari Afsar, Erin Ortman, Martha Nichols, Jen Bender, and Regina Victor

Thursday 6 August 2020
United States

Playwright Lauren Gunderson presented Arts + Activism: Jeannette and Making Political Musical Theatre livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 6 August 2020 at 12 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 2:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 3:00 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Glod in red, a silhouette of a person with their arm raised.
A discussion about Common Wealth's I Have Met the Enemy (and the enemy is us)
Video

A discussion about Common Wealth's I Have Met the Enemy (and the enemy is us)

Part of BÉZNĂ Theatre's GLOD: Political Theatre as a Civil Right series

Monday 3 August 2020
International

Glod: Political Theatre as a Civil Right presented a discussion about Common Wealth's I Have Met the Enemy (and the enemy is us) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 3 August 2020 at 10 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 1 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 6 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 8 p.m. EEST (Cluj, UTC +3).

two actors onstage
Foundations for a Cross-Cultural Community Theatre in Dharamshala
Essay

Foundations for a Cross-Cultural Community Theatre in Dharamshala

29 July 2020

Parvathi Ramanathan talks about the community-based, cross-cultural theatre project, d.r.i.f.t., in India’s Dharamshala region.

Glod in red, a silhouette of a person with their arm raised.
Zoukak Theatre Company’s HEAVENS (audio version)
Video

Zoukak Theatre Company’s HEAVENS (audio version)

Part of BÉZNĂ Theatre's GLOD: Political Theatre as a Civil Right series

Monday 20 July 2020
International

Glod: Political Theatre as a Civil Right presented Zoukak Theatre Company’s HEAVENS (audio version) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 20 July 2020 at 10 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 1 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 6 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 8 p.m. EEST (Cluj, UTC +3).

purple and green poster with lotus blossoms
A staged reading of “Ravayana”
Video

A staged reading of “Ravayana”

A queer, feminist, modern reinterpretation of the Hindu epic of Ram and Sita presented by Fresh Lime Soda Productions

Saturday 18 July 2020
United States

Fresh Lime Soda Productions presented a staged reading of “Ravayana” livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 18 July 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

text DECOLONIZED LEADERSHIP PRACTICES on blue and yellow background
Green New Theater Part 2: Decolonized Leadership Practices
Video

Green New Theater Part 2: Decolonized Leadership Practices

hosted by Groundwater Arts

Thursday 16 July 2020
United States

Groundwater Arts presented Green New Theater Part 2: Decolonized Leadership Practices livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 16 July 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).

A performance of A Sample of Immigrant Life
Video

A performance of A Sample of Immigrant Life

the culminating performance of The Square Theatre’s project The Art of Losing

Sunday 12 July 2020
United States

The Square Theater presented a performance of A Sample of Immigrant Life livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 12 July at 3 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 5 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 6 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

Gathering of Generation NOW: Freedom Fighter & ARTivists
Video

Gathering of Generation NOW: Freedom Fighter & ARTivists

A virtual gathering for frontline youth/young activists and artists

Saturday 11 July 2020
United States

Gathering of Generation NOW: Freedom Fighter & ARTivists livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 11 July 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).

[A photo of Lavie. She wears a black beret and turtle neck and red long traditional Maori earrings.]
Anti-Oppression in the Performing Arts LAB with Lavie Williams
Video

Anti-Oppression in the Performing Arts LAB with Lavie Williams

A two hour learning session guiding performers to consider how whiteness, tokenization, appropriation and allyship manifest in their arts practices

Thursday 9 July 2020
Kingston, Ontario

Kingston Circus Arts and anARC Theatre presented Anti-Oppression in the Performing Arts LAB with Lavie Williams livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 9 July 2020 at 8 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 10 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 11 a.m. EDT (Kingston, UTC-4).

Glod in red, a silhouette of a person with their arm raised.
BÉZNĂ Theatre’s ILLEGALISED
Video

BÉZNĂ Theatre’s ILLEGALISED

An international, multi-lingual production exposing the dehumanising effects of the British State’s anti-immigration policies on migrants and those seeking asylum in the UK.

Monday 6 July 2020
International

Glod: Political Theatre as a Civil Right presented a performance of BÉZNĂ Theatre’s ILLEGALISED livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 6 July 2020 at 10 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 6 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1) / 8 p.m. EEST (Cluj, UTC+3).

Group of people posing under the text "Contested Homes: Migrant liberation movement suite"
Contested Homes: a Migrant Liberation Movement Suite
Video

Contested Homes: a Migrant Liberation Movement Suite

A new free jazz opera that combines jazz, hip-hop, spoken word, dance, and visual art animated and illustrated by students and guest artists

Tuesday 30 June 2020
Madison, WI United States

The Afro Yaqui Music Collective, in collaboration with UW-Madison Jazz Studies presented Contested Homes: a Migrant Liberation Movement Suite livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 30 June 2020 at 7:30 p.m. CDT (Madison, UTC -5) / 2:30 p.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC -10) / 4:30 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8) / 5:30 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 6:30 pm.m MDT (Denver, UTC -6) / 8:30 p.m. EDT (New York City, UTC -4)