Theatre and Anxiety from Society to the Stage

Theatre and Anxiety from Society to the Stage
Author: Elaine Mary Smith
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2021
Genre: Theater
ISBN:

This thesis focuses on the staging of anxiety in modern American theatre. Specifically, I explore theatrical representations of anxiety around three events that shifted people's perception: 9/11, the recession of 2008, and the 2016 presidential election. I am interested in how playwrights explore recent surges of anxiety in society and why. The plays I engage with focus on individuals whose voices are lost in public discourse as the economic gap between classes grows. By looking at the plays through the affect theory of Sara Ahmed and the lectures on anxiety by Jacques Lacan, I explore how these plays offer audiences ways to understand and communicate the complex layers of anxiety. The introduction examines how anxiety moved from its status as a medical diagnosis to becoming a part of current culture. The second chapter is focused on The Humans by Stephen Karam, a play that deals with the layering of multiple anxieties, including post-traumatic stress disorder due to the events of September 11, 2001. The third chapter's focus is Sweat by Lynne Nottage, which explores how economic anxiety of the people left behind in a city that loses its industry can lead to 'othering' of individuals and how the status of 'other' circulates through society. The fourth chapter deals with Richard Nelson's play, Women of a Certain Age, which takes place on the evening of the 2016 presidential election. I examine how a family can find comfort together when they are suspended between realities of the past and future by being together in the present. Like the canary in the coalmine, playwrights have been staging plays that deal with the anxiety of people who feel lost because their country has changed due to moments of social upheaval. By listening to how playwrights communicate anxiety to audiences, it is possible the work they are doing lends itself to the larger conversation that is growing around anxiety today.

Susan Glaspell and the Anxiety of Expression

Susan Glaspell and the Anxiety of Expression
Author: Kristina Hinz-Bode
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 303
Release: 2015-01-28
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 0786483709

One of the founding members of the Provincetown Players, Susan Glaspell contributed to American literature in ways that exceed the work she did for this significant theatre group. Interwoven in her many plays, novels and short stories is astute commentary on the human condition. This volume provides an in-depth examination of Glaspell's writing and how her language conveys her insights into the universal dilemma of society versus self. Glaspell's ideas transcended the plot and character. Her work gave prominent attention to such issues as gender, politics, power and artistic daring. Through an exploration of eight plays written between the years of 1916 and 1943--Trifles, Springs Eternal, The People, Alison's House, Bernice, The Outside, Chains of Dew and The Verge--this work concentrates on one of Glaspell's central themes: individuality versus social existence. It explores the range of forces and fundamental tensions that influence the perception and communication of her characters. The final chapter includes a brief commentary on other Glaspell works. A biographical overview provides background for the author's reading and interpretation of the plays, placing Glaspell within the context of literary modernism.

The Theatre of Anxiety

The Theatre of Anxiety
Author: Leila Michelle Vaziri
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2024-11-04
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 9783111554914

We are living in times when populism, war and climate change are all sources of anxiety caused by overlapping crises. Anxiety is a phenomenon that is not just reflected everywhere around us but is also increasingly manifesting itself in contemporary drama: particularly in the last five to ten years many new British dramas and theatre productions have given a stage to anxiety. Given this central role of anxiety, the aim of this study is to outline the interplay of theatre and anxiety on both a thematic and aesthetic level. It argues that a strand of contemporary theatre that combines topics of social, ecological, technological and pandemic importance with investigations into the philosophical and aesthetic implications of anxiety has come to prominence in recent years: the theatre of anxiety. This is traced across exemplary readings of a number of contemporary British plays by playwrights such as Caryl Churchill, Zinnie Harris, Alistair McDowall and others. They show that contemporary drama and performance both aesthetically and thematically reflect and comment on global crises and catastrophes through the lens of anxiety as a feeling that 'colours' the perception of and reaction to these social and political conditions.

The Theatre of Anxiety

The Theatre of Anxiety
Author: Leila Michelle Vaziri
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Total Pages: 358
Release: 2024-12-04
Genre:
ISBN: 3111555216

Self-esteem, Recovery and the Performing Arts

Self-esteem, Recovery and the Performing Arts
Author: Donna Douglass
Publisher: Charles C Thomas Publisher
Total Pages: 259
Release: 2011
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0398086079

A musical theatre company for people with psychiatric disabilities. The focus is on the recruitment and retention of cast members, the informational meeting, getting organized, the first production, expecting the unexpected and the crisis resolution, and the secrets to success utilizing patience, practice, and perseverance. Additionally, the book contains pertinent information on publicity and programs, costumes, sets and props, and theme shows. The appendix contains a wealth of supplementary information, including program guides and sample forms. This unique text will be a valuable resource to mental health practitioners, educators, students in mental health and related fields, and for those interested in starting a community musical theatre company for people with a serious mental illness and other disabilities. --Book Jacket.

Beyond The Script

Beyond The Script
Author: Isaiah Moore
Publisher: Isaiah Moore
Total Pages: 68
Release:
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN:

"Beyond the Script: Mental Health Fundamentals for Actors" explores the nuanced intersection of acting and mental health, tailored specifically for those in the dynamic world of modern theatre. This eBook serves as an essential resource, offering a detailed look into the mental health challenges unique to performers, alongside strategies to manage and overcome these hurdles. It provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and building the mental resilience necessary to thrive in the ever-evolving demands of the performing arts. The book starts with an exploration of the psychological impacts of various acting methods and how these approaches affect performers' mental health. It underscores the importance of recognizing mental health challenges common in the theatre, such as anxiety, depression, and stress, and provides insights on how these can be managed through practical, everyday strategies. Subsequent chapters delve into techniques for mental preparation, highlighting visualization and mindfulness as crucial tools for enhancing performance and emotional regulation. The narrative also covers relaxation techniques specific to actors, emphasizing the benefits of controlled breathing and progressive muscle relaxation in maintaining peak performance condition. As it progresses, "Beyond the Script" shifts focus towards building emotional resilience, offering methods to handle rejection and criticism constructively and stressing the importance of feedback in personal and professional growth. It underscores the significance of creating a supportive environment within theatre groups to enhance well-being and performance, advocating for open communication and strong community dynamics. Finally, the eBook addresses life after major roles and the importance of career transitions, discussing strategies for maintaining mental health during breaks and unemployment. It concludes by outlining the steps for planning a sustainable career in theatre, emphasizing financial planning, continuous learning, and the diversification of skills. This guide is an invaluable companion for anyone involved in the performing arts, from students and emerging actors to seasoned professionals, providing them with the tools to ensure their mental health is given the same priority as their artistic performance. By integrating these practices, actors can secure not only their professional success but also their personal well-being, making their theatrical journey both sustainable and fulfilling.

Twenty-First Century Anxieties

Twenty-First Century Anxieties
Author: Merle Tönnies
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Total Pages: 260
Release: 2022-10-24
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 3110758253

The volume uses an interdisciplinary approach to examine how 21st-century British theatre increasingly intercuts dystopian and utopian elements to create innovative strategies for addressing current social and political concerns. In the case studies, a key role is given to the ways in which the selected plays use real and fictional spaces on stage and thereby manage to construct interactional spaces which the spectators are invited to share.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder
Author: National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (Great Britain)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 323
Release: 2013-08-01
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9781909726031

Social anxiety disorder is persistent fear of (or anxiety about) one or more social situations that is out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the situation and can be severely detrimental to quality of life. Only a minority of people with social anxiety disorder receive help. Effective treatments do exist and this book aims to increase identification and assessment to encourage more people to access interventions. Covers adults, children and young people and compares the effects of pharmacological and psychological interventions. Commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). The CD-ROM contains all of the evidence on which the recommendations are based, presented as profile tables (that analyse quality of data) and forest plots (plus, info on using/interpreting forest plots). This material is not available in print anywhere else.

The Theatre

The Theatre
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 450
Release: 1879
Genre: Actors
ISBN:

Volume for 1888 includes dramatic directory for February-December; volume for 1889 includes dramatic directory for January-May.