ABSTRACT

This book is for both art-based researchers and research-informed artists, exploring the theatrical genre known as Collective Creation, or Playbuilding. Performers generate data around chosen topics— from addiction and sexuality to qualitative research—by compiling scenes from their disparate voices. Audience members become involved in the investigation, and the performed scenes do not end the conversation but challenge and extend it. Through discussion and audience participation, the process examines how knowledge is defined and how data is mediated.

part I|2 pages

The Background

chapter 1|22 pages

Introduction

Toward a Theory of Playbuilding as Research

chapter 2|26 pages

“A” Research to Performance Process

chapter 3|25 pages

History of Mirror Theatre

part II|4 pages

The Scripting

chapter 4|12 pages

Pressures

Understanding Peer Pressure and Sexual Activity through Sculpting and Readers Theatre

chapter 5|14 pages

The “M” Word

Understanding Sexuality through Improvisation and Personal Testimony

chapter 6|10 pages

Funky Shirt

Problematizing Clothing Communication through Voices Off and a Dream Sequence

chapter 7|12 pages

Cattle Call

Understanding Discrimination through Shadow Screen and Video

chapter 8|10 pages

I Expect

Understanding the Politics of Student Teaching through Voice Collage

chapter 9|8 pages

The Party

Understanding Status, Power, and Bullying through Gibberish and Body Language

chapter 10|8 pages

Dares

Understanding Risk Taking through Variations of a Theme

chapter 11|8 pages

Are You Really Listening?

Understanding Prejudice through Inner Dialogue

chapter 12|8 pages

Who’s with Whom?

Understanding Prejudice through Mime

chapter 13|12 pages

Whose Pencil Is It Anyway?

Understanding Conflict through Standard Dramatization and Scene Reconstruction

chapter 14|8 pages

Distillation

Understanding Qualitative Research through Metaphorical Machines

part III|2 pages

The Performance Workshop

chapter 15|32 pages

Participatory Dissemination

Working “with” an Audience