Abstract
Drama, according to contemporary theatre histories, has its roots in ritual; in the sacrifices and celebrations held in the name of the ancient gods and in the music, dancing, chanting and singing of a communal act of worship. The drama or ‘doing’ of such an act can be seen as a profound expression of its respective culture, with the potential to be both sacred and blasphemous. It may summon up forces that are both light and dark. It may be both idyll and nightmare. It may reassure or chill the blood. Western theatre then, as an organised form of entertainment held in a specific place, has grown from this — and some would say has been trying to get back to it ever since.
In everyday life, ‘if’ is a fiction, in the theatre ‘if’ is an experiment. In everyday life, ‘if’ is an evasion, in the theatre ‘if’ is the truth. When we are persuaded to believe in this truth, then the theatre and life are one.
(Peter Brook)
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© 1996 Mary Luckhurst
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Luckhurst, M. (1996). Writing for Performance: Stage, Screen and Radio. In: Singleton, J., Luckhurst, M. (eds) The Creative Writing Handbook. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-13814-2_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-13814-2_8
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
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