Decolonising African Theatre

The Element proffers theatric theory to critique African playtexts and performatic theory to aid in performer training.

Samuel Ravengai (Author)

9781009500449, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 11 April 2024

82 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 1 cm, 0.27 kg

Decolonisation can be pursued in different ways. After many years of developing a critical language to engage coloniality, the most urgent need in African theatre is to develop new theories and methods in our manufactories. This Element uses Afroscenology as a theory to read and comment on African theatre. The Element particularly focuses on the history of laboratories in which it was tested and emerged, the historicization of rombic theatre and the crafting of a theory of the playtext which has been named theatric theory to distinguish it from the Aristotelian dramatic theory. The second dimension of the theory is the performatic technique. This Element also explain Afrosonic mime through examples drawn from the workshops conducted in training performers.

1. Introduction: canonising an African theory of theatre
2. Reconfiguring African theatre episteme: formulating the theory of Afroscenology
3. Rombic theatre: celebrating the fools of Africa and crafting a theory
4. Afrosonic mime: a post-psychophysical perspective
5. Conclusion
References.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: general [DSB]