INTRODUCTION

In a Europe whose politics lean towards the right, ‘political theatre’ is still generally understood to mean theatre of the left. This odd usage seems to imply that all other theatre is politically neutral. It would be naïve to think it is. But the left has figured much more strongly in the drive for change in theatre; the right has presumably been more content with it as it is. To that degree the left has stolen the limelight. So in a brief sampling of creative initiatives with political roots and purposes, the left can hardly not dominate.