The promises of history: pedagogic principles and processes of change

Abstract

This paper offers a brief reading of the history of theatre education and applied theatre as a way to reflect on the principles and values that have informed their development. It argues that a critical genealogy of this history suggests that theatrical experiments in educational and community settings have always responded creatively and critically to their times. It argues that twenty-first century theatre practitioners are following in this tradition by experimenting with innovative forms of theatre-making that challenge artistic boundaries.