WHAT THEATRE OWES REAL-LIFE POLITICS

In the final article in her guest editor series, Emma Burnell examines the relationship between theatre and real-life politics, speaking to industry figures such as James Graham, and a number of other critics and playwrights. 

Emma Burnell is a Journalist, Political Consultant and Playwright. Her first play, No Cure for Love can be seen here.

“A playwright has to have a really good story. The politics should fit around it… I don’t want ever to feel like I am being hammered around the head with a message.”

These are the words of culture politics journalist Nicole Lambert and they have stuck with me as I have thought about this series of blogs exploring the ways in which politics and the performing arts interact – be that through comedy, a particular playwright or in its effect on an audience. There is so much scope for persuasion and even activation through theatre - but where does that leave the people who are seeing themselves depicted on stage?

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