Overview
The concept of the public sphere, as first outlined by German
philosopher Jurgen Habermas, refers to the right of all citizens to
engage in debate on public issues on equal terms. In this book,
Christopher B. Balme explores theatre's role in this crucial political
and social function. He traces its origins and argues that the
theatrical public sphere invariably focuses attention on theatre as an
institution between the shifting borders of the private and public,
reasoned debate and agonistic intervention. Chapters explore this
concept in a variety of contexts, including the debates that led to the
closure of British theatres in 1642, theatre's use of media,
controversies surrounding race, religion and blasphemy, and theatre's
place in a new age of globalised aesthetics. Balme concludes by
addressing the relationship of theatre today with the public sphere and
whether theatre's transformation into an art form has made it
increasingly irrelevant for contemporary society.