ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with an overview of the affective dimensions of populism, with a particular emphasis on the mobilising forces of fear and failure. It considers the ways that these affective qualities are foundational to recent manifestations of populism in the United States and United Kingdom, drawing on illustrative examples from both left- and right-wing movements. The chapter also addresses the way that populist leadership capitalises on feelings of risk and failure, resulting in the prominence of fear and anger within populist rhetoric and political performances – traits which are further exacerbated within digital populist interactions. The chapter then turns to a consideration of contemporary theatrical practices that invoke fear and failure in a productive manner. The chapter concludes with a discussion of recent workshops undertaken by the author that demonstrate how performance practices can be utilised to address otherwise negative affective qualities by repositioning them within the context of creative collaboration and experimentation.
