The rock musical "Rent," by Jonathan Larson, premiered in 1996 and tackled issues such as poverty, homelessness, LGBTQ+ rights and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It challenged the status quo by bringing these pressing social issues to the forefront of mainstream theatre and sparked conversations about marginalized communities and social justice.
Theatre has always been a powerful medium for activism and social consciousness. The theatre genres include classical, contemporary, musical, experimental and avant-garde, political and social, regional and cultural, feminist and queer, and ecological theatre.
Whether your interest is in one of these or another, here are ways you might harness your creativity and talents to inspire, mobilize and unite people around sociopolitical causes:
Glitch Studios collaborated with three Norwegian theatres to create the first live stage theatre performance in Europe using augmented reality. Their production, "Briar & Rose," blends AR technology with live actors on stage, allowing audience members to interact with mythical creatures and dragons. Imagine the political possibilities…
Ang Xiao Ting makes participatory theatre that prioritizes ecological practices and has advocacy-driven messages embedded within it. She creates her works from the ground-up with activist groups, researchers, gastronomists, farmers, botanists or scientists. Produced at Singapore's The Theatre Practice, Ang's "Extinction Feast" was a playful black comedy about Asian culture, fish consumption and our pesky conscience. Blending storytelling and dining, the production also featured canapés. Of fish, no doubt.