The Impact of Theatre on English Political Attitudes

Abstract

Theater and politics are historically and socially connected to each other, politics is practically theatrical, and Theater has always been colored with Politics throughout the changing of the political movements. Both of these fields had been originated from the same fundamental sources which are (power and persuasion). They are completely different expressions of the same concept, and this can be seen in the shared (Theatrical-Political) focus on argument. Theater and Politics have the same target, which is "convincing people" and lead them to certain conclusions. Politics and Theater focus on getting people to believe what the speaker is saying. The speaker of Theater or Politics requires his audience to believe in his character and the world he creates. The politician, requires his followers to trust in his decisions, and delegate the authority to him. In this way, Politics and Theater are both principally regarded as tools of Persuasion, a functions of the power one person has in relation to his audiences. As representation of the power , Theater gives the permission for experimentation in human relationships, or an examination of the society and the power relationships contained within it. Theatre can be a tool for illuminating what the power structures exist now, or arguing for which structures should exist. By revisiting the theatre's history with a view informed in political theory, i attempt to outline the changing impacts implied by different theatrical movements throughout the development of English Theater. Unlike other kinds of literature, the result of the examination of the power through the use of theatre relies on what the spectators received from a piece of theatrical work and give this piece the capacity to be a useful political experience. One act of theatrical play can have a multitude messages and discoveries of power that are worth pursuing. Theater can fulfill this function by allowing the participants to live through whatever power struggle can be imagined and learn something about power through the experience. Audiences of the theater also live vicariously through the performers, and have some knowledge as well.