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For some the mere mention of audience participation in theatre induces anxiety; for others it is a welcome invitation to indulge their secret ambitions to tread the boards. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, if you have been around during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe it is likely you have had some brush with audience participation (voluntarily or not!). In her new book, published as part of Cambridge University Press’ Elements in Contemporary Performance Texts series, IASH Fellow Dr Helen Shutt centres the role of the playwright in facilitating a model of audience participation underpinned by values of care. Drawing upon principles from the field of applied theatre, analysis of works by playwrights including Tim Crouch, Nassim Soleimanpour, Hannah Jane Walker and Chris Thorpe, as well as her own reflections on writing and staging a co-authored play, the book proposes a care-centred model of playwriting which fosters an inclusive and accessible experience of co-creation in performance. The book is currently free to access online until 8th June.
To celebrate the launch of the book, join Helen in discussion with IASH/Traverse Creative Fellow Jack MacGregor (Everything Under the Sun, Our Brother) as they reflect on how the playwright can craft opportunities for participation in performance and what care in the theatre-making space means more broadly. The book launch will be followed by a drinks reception. To book a space, please visit Eventbrite. To attend virtually rather than in-person, please click here for Teams Webinar registration.
Biography
Dr Helen Shutt is an interdisciplinary theatre practitioner and researcher who was awarded her PhD in Theatre Studies from the University of Glasgow in 2023. She is particularly interested in using participatory arts methods to support modes of expressing and understanding gender-related issues. Her doctoral thesis employed a practice-based methodology to develop care-centred approaches to crafting participatory performance. In 2023 she undertook a Research Fellowship with Stellar Quines Theatre Company, using care as a lens through which to assess initiatives to make the theatre industry safer, more accessible and inclusive.
Alongside her work in the UK Theatre stage and screen sectors, Helen has worked internationally exploring sex and gender-based issues, collaborating with organisations in India (Think Arts), Malawi (Theatre for a Change), Mozambique and Sierra Leone (Timap for Justice). From 2024-25 she worked as the Postdoctoral Research Associate on a British Academy funded project undertaking a multidimensional investigation into female circumcision in Sierra Leone. She led on the design and delivery of creative approaches to explore experiences of Sierra Leonean womanhood.
Admission and Accessibility
This is a free event, which means we overbook to allow for no-shows and to avoid empty seats. While we generally do not have to turn people away, this does mean we cannot guarantee everyone a place. Admission is on a first come, first served basis.
Accessibility: This event will take place at IASH, 2 Hope Park Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9NW. Please see a map here: https://www.iash.ed.ac.uk/location The Seminar Room is on the first floor, and unfortunately IASH does not have a lift. If you have mobility issues and would like to discuss access, please contact iash@ed.ac.uk as soon as possible.