Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

194605

Radical poetry

David Gothard

pp. 207-209

Abstract

To me as a director, teacher, and facilitator of contemporary art and performance, the poetical space is a political space—and this space can make theatre revolutionary. One hundred years ago, W. B. Yeats founded the Abbey Theatre, now the National Theatre of Ireland, in revolution. He was motivated by a nation needing poetic drama at its heart to survive and to show its true nature. To my mind, this is what Naomi Wallace does for the American stage, brilliantly bridging a universe from small town to global power and destruction. Theatre cannot be strictly controlled. It needs mistakes and interference. The theatre has a history of embracing its intelligentsia and audience, which it is in danger of losing in an over-commercialized world. The important theatre writer confronts that.

Publication details

Published in:

Cummings Scott T., Stevens Abbitt Erica (2013) The theatre of Naomi Wallace: embodied dialogues. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.

Pages: 207-209

DOI: 10.1057/9781137017925_19

Full citation:

Gothard David (2013) „Radical poetry“, In: S. T. Cummings & E. Stevens Abbitt (eds.), The theatre of Naomi Wallace, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 207–209.