THE CURRENT STATE OF SOUTH-WEST RURAL REPRESENTATION IN CONTEMPORARY THEATRE.

Abstract

The following thesis will present the current state of South-West rural representation in contemporary theatre and explore who has the right to tell rural communities stories. Using rural proofing as a base framework will present a new framework for theatre makers to inform and influence their creative representations of South-West rural life. To understand the current state of representation and create the framework to improve this, I will be using formalist, actantial and script analysis of select plays, practitioners and theatre companies representing rural life in their work. Equally, my work as a theatre maker will be analysed as I present ways in which artists could improve South-West rural representation.