Applied Theatre and Intercultural Dialogue

This book examines applied theatre projects that bring together diverse groups and foster intercultural dialogue. Based on five case studies and informed by play theory, it argues that the playful elements of theatre processes nurture a unique intimacy among diverse people.  However, this playful quality can also dampen explicit conversations about participants’ cultural differences, and defer an interrogation of people’s own entrenchment in systemic power imbalances. As a result, addressing these differences and imbalances in applied theatre contexts may require particular strategies.

“Elliot Leffler’s book is an excellent addition to applied theatre scholarship. He takes us through accounts of drama projects with high school teens, workshops with residents in a US summer camp, performance programs with inmates of a South African prison and Bibliodrama initiatives in Chicago. Each case study is beautifully drawn and demonstrates the opportunities and pitfalls of what he productively labels creative intimacy. Applied Theatre and Intercultural Dialogue invites us to understand the importance of playfulness as we, in his words, think with our groups about high stakes topics. This is vital reading for scholars and practitioners alike.” (James Thomson, Professor of Applied Theatre, University of Manchester, UK)


“Applied Theatre and Intercultural Dialogue: Playfully Approaching Difference is an example of a book that, like the practices it describes, breathes new life into how we understand how theatrecan help us to co-exist. Through inviting and rigorous case studies, Leffler investigates how acts of play can enhance intercultural intimacies and understanding while simultaneously revealing the limitations of play in contending with legacies of conflict and oppression. This will be an inspiring read for both students and experienced practitioners.” (Nisha Sajnani, Director, Graduate Program in Drama Therapy, New York University, US)


“We need more public scholarship like this. Blending a thoughtful synthesis of existing theory with personal experiences grounded in dynamic story-telling, Elliot Leffler asks the reader to consider questions artists and facilitators often skim over: When does the power of theatre to build community actually reduce our ability to facilitate critical dialogue? When should and shouldn’t a facilitator push participants towards difficult conversations? With transparency, curiosity and compassion, Leffler hosts a conversation you wantto join.” (Michael Rohd, Director, Co-Lab for Civic Imagination, University of Montana, US) 


“In these polarized times, it is more important than ever to encourage fierce conversations and intimate dialogue so we can better understand each other.  Leffler’s book expands the landscape of applied theatre, providing an essential understanding of creative approaches to this constructive engagement.  These case studies not only delineate specific techniques and practices, but illustrate the possibilities and challenges inherent in building communities of trust.” (Willa Taylor, Walter Director of Education and Engagement, Goodman Theatre, US)


“In engaging and inspirational writing, this book illuminates how applied theatre encourages play and what it can enable in intercultural encounters.  Across five case-studies, the author humbly and unpretentiously shares not only the highlights of the creative processes, but also moments when the playful bubbles of harmony and communitas prevent dialogue about controversial issues such as racial inequity. Fusing thick description and theory, the book’s focus on how to overcome these obstacles offers hope." (Shulamith Lev-Aladgem, Professor in the Theatre Arts Department, Tel Aviv University, Israel) 


“From both a scholar's and a practitioner's perspective, Leffler examines how applied theatre, as a space of play, can provide the relational grounding to support cross-cultural dialogues, especially those that question systemic injustices. Contextualized within thick description, Leffler competently weaves an extensive range of relevant theories with concrete practices, as he asks himself, and the field, difficult questions.” (Jan Cohen-Cruz, Faculty Member, Touchstone Theatre MFA in Performance Creation, United States)

Elliot Leffler is Assistant Professor of Theatre and Performance at the University of Toronto in Canada. As an artist and a scholar, Elliot explores theatre-making as a context for intercultural, interfaith, and intergenerational dialogue. He has led theatre projects with white, black, and coloured South Africans, with Jews and Palestinians in Israel, with Kurdish and Arab Iraqis, with urban US high school students, and with racially-diverse houses of worship. His previous publications include articles in Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre Research, Theatre Research International, The Drama Review, Theatre Topics, and Contemporary Theatre Review.