Customer Reviews
A well put together book - By: Dale Machin, 15 Sep 2008 
As an introduction to theatre theory this book is a pleasure to read, & what's more - it is understandable! So many authors of these type of books write with their headin the clouds, flexing their vocabulary muscles so much that it becomes a bore to read. No so with this. It is a well focused down to earth book that gets to the point. Well recommended.
In depth and multi-dimensional - By: Mr. S. Bamkin, 25 Apr 2007 Fortier somehow masters an introduction to many theoretical perspectives & their relation to theatrein a relatively small volume. The book focuses on theatre as performed rather than as writen.
After consideration of the various waysin which theatre & theory can interact, Fortier dedicates nine chapters to nine theoretical perpectives. Each chapter outlines the major approaches & writingsin the field & inter-relates them to oneanother before giving a few examples of how the theory can be applied to certain appropiately selected performances.
The first 3 chapters (Semiotics, Phenomenology, Post-strucuralism) are geared towards the relationship to text.
The second 3 chapters (Psychoanalytic, Feminist, Reception) is conscious of subjectivity as motivation of practitioners.
The third 3 chapters (Materialist, Post-modernism, Post-colonial) is geared towards theatre's relationship to 'the outside world'.
The writing style is very open & avoids any dogmatic statements; which can be annoying if you are trying to find quick answers or a definition of a theory, but is an overall strength as it provokes a deeper understanding.
This is the only book I know of which relates more than one theory specifically to theatre. It is also rare to find works that inter-relate more than two theories. It is supprising "Theory/Theatre" is so easy to follow.
It breifly covers a magnitude of practitioners & theorists, then closes with a comprehensive list of further works for each area. It includes a glossary & bibliography.
an essential read - By: luke allder, 26 Jul 2005 To anyone studying or interestedin modern theatre movements & literary critism this book surely is a must. Fortier's language is concise & defined & allows for confortable reading. For anybody studying theatre, especially before you get into an exam this book is essential & key to hightened understanding.
truly recommended
