Overview
Adrian Howells (1962–2014) was one of the world’s leading figures
in the field of one-to-one performance practice - the act of staging an
event for one audience participant at a time. Developed over more than a
decade, Howells’s award-winning work demonstrated not only his enduring
commitment to this genre of performance, but also his determination to
find new challenges and innovations in performance art, “intimate
theatre,” and socially engaged art. It’s All Allowed, edited by Deirdre
Heddon and Dominic Johnson, is the first book devoted to Howells’s
remarkable achievements and legacy. Contributors here testify to the
methodological, thematic, and historiographical challenges posed by
Howells’s performances. Citing his permissive mantra as its title, It’s All Allowed includes
new writing from leading scholars and artists, as well as writing by
Howells himself, an extensive interview, scores, and visual materials,
which together offer new insight into Howells’s ground-breaking process.
Deirdre Heddon is professor of contemporary performance practice at the University of Glasgow and the author of numerous books, including Autobiography and Performance. Dominic Johnson is a senior lecturer in the Department of Drama at Queen Mary University of London and the editor of Pleading in the Blood: The Art and Performances of Ron Athey, also published by Intellect.