Performance in a Time of Terror by Jenny Hughes

Performance in a Time of Terror by Jenny Hughes

Performance in a time of terror offers a thought-provoking investigation of the way performance has given shape and form to wars on terror past and present, as both a tactic of violence and a strategy of resistance. The book focuses on an array of performances created during the 'war on terror' of the first decade of the twenty-first century. Beginning with the spate of carefully rehearsed beheadings carried out by Islamic insurgents in Iraq in 2004, a key proposal is that the radical in performance can be most clearly identified in acts of violence that have obliterated life. Here, the reader is also taken back in time to encounter how performance was employed as part of counterinsurgency operations during the 'war on terrorism' in Northern Ireland (1969-1998). Moving on to explore how theatre-makers and performance activists have used performance to generate habitable worlds for life in times of crisis, Hughes argues for a re-engagement with the conservative in the critical project of art-making. As part of this, original discussions of the resurgence of political theatre on London stages and the proliferation of performative anti-war activism during the war in Iraq (2003-2008), are provided. Also documented are an extraordinary series of theatre productions commissioned by counterterrorism agencies following the suicide attacks in the UK in 2005. Performance in a time of terror will appeal to researchers and students of contemporary theatre and performance, especially those interested in the politics of performance. It will also be of general interest to anyone researching wars on terror and terrorism from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Jenny Hughes is Lecturer in Drama at the University of Manchester.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780719085291
ISBN 10	0719085292
Title	Performance in a Time of Terror
Author	Jenny Hughes
Series	Theatre: Theory - Practice - Performance Ser
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Manchester University Press
Year published	2011-11-30
Number of pages	224
Prizes	Winner of New Career Research in Theatre/Performance Prize 2012 (UK)
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.