Participatory theatre as democratic space: opportunities and limitations

In this thesis I examine the potential opportunities and limitations presented by participatory theatre as a form of democratic space. I argue that neoliberal policies and a pervasive neoliberal rationality (Brown, 2015) have undermined democracy in the UK. This comes at a time when we require a more inclusive, deliberative and imaginative democracy to face the double threat of widening inequalities and climate change. In this thesis I argue that democracy is a crucial component of the move toward a sustainably prosperous society. With this context in mind, I draw on the work of democratic theorists (including Arendt, [1959] 2019; Freire, [1968] 1996; Young, 2000) to build a theoretical framework for a useful democratic space, which can help to overcome the limitations placed on democracy by neoliberalism. This framework includes five key elements: inclusivity, listening and exchange, discourse on the common good, imagination and a belief in alternatives and political efficacy.

This thesis explores two in-depth case studies of participatory theatre events (Cathy, by Cardboard Citizens and We Know Not What We May Be by METIS), as potential examples of democratic spaces. Participatory theatre has a rich political history (Bishop, 2012; Boal, 1979), yet this practice remains largely unexamined within democratic theory and the study of political participation. I argue that theatre sector-wide limitations, including issues of inclusivity and policy impact, make it impossible for these case studies to be straightforwardly defined as useful democratic spaces. However, this approach to creating and facilitating democratic spaces can provide distinctive opportunities for citizens to exchange ideas and values with strangers, in a way that includes alternative approaches to discourse (for example, emotional and non-verbal contributions). Participatory theatre events also offers significant opportunities in terms of imagining alternatives, given that their starting point is a fictional world. Overall, whilst there are sector-wide limitations to this approach, the case studies explored in this thesis are instructive in terms of how to create and facilitate inclusive, deliberative and imaginative democratic spaces.