Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
Social Justice Theatre in eastern Kentucky: Roadside's Thousand Kites and Higher Ground's Needle Work
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
At the 2018 ASA Conference, I would like to discuss two contemporary works of theatre in eastern Kentucky. Both works are in the tradition of 1960s Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed. After providing a brief introduction to Boal, I will examine how Thousand Kites and Needle Work fit in the contemporary social justice theatre canon. Following is a summary description of the two eastern Kentucky plays.
In the mid-2000s, the Holler to the Hood--Roadside Theater collaboration produced a compelling work of social justice theatre focusing on the criminal justice system. Entitled Thousand Kites, Act One of the three act play offers scripted stories from those personally affected by the criminal justice system; Act Two opens up for audience interaction; Act Three uses a moderator to direct the cast and audience in a discussion of ways to go forward. On September 23, 2017, in Whitesburg, Kentucky, the Higher Ground Project premiered its seventh production: Needle Work. The first-ever commissioned script for the Higher Ground Project, Needle Work focuses on issues surrounding substance abuse in the community, particularly the spread of infectious disease caused by the use of dirty needles. A Letcher County community coalition, including health-care providers, commissioned the play from its Harlan County neighbors. At the September 23rd premiere of Needle Work, the one-act performance was followed by an interactive audience discussion, led by two local health care providers.
Brief Outline of Paper
I. Contemporary Theatre Context (brief description of Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed, also known as applied theatre, social theatre, etc, including explanation of theoretical basis for such theatre).
II. Roadside’s Thousand Kites: analysis of ways in which this work of applied theatre (by a professional eastern Kentucky theatre) engages those impacted by the current criminal justice system, especially prisoners and families of those prisoners; discussion of intercultural communication across region, race, and ethnicity
III. Higher Ground’s latest production, Needle Work: analysis of the performance as an example of applied theatre created and performed entirely by members of a community heavily impacted by drug addiction.
IV. Synthesis: both Appalachian performance pieces exemplify contemporary trends in theatre far beyond borders of the region; both engage affected communities in enacting change, restoring agency to individuals in what Boal termed “oppressed” communities
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Anita J. Turpin, who is nearing the end of three decades of teaching at Roanoke College, grew up on a small tobacco farm in Wayne County, Kentucky. Her scholarship focuses on the contemporary theatre of Appalachia.
Conference Subthemes
Diversity and Inclusion
Social Justice Theatre in eastern Kentucky: Roadside's Thousand Kites and Higher Ground's Needle Work
At the 2018 ASA Conference, I would like to discuss two contemporary works of theatre in eastern Kentucky. Both works are in the tradition of 1960s Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed. After providing a brief introduction to Boal, I will examine how Thousand Kites and Needle Work fit in the contemporary social justice theatre canon. Following is a summary description of the two eastern Kentucky plays.
In the mid-2000s, the Holler to the Hood--Roadside Theater collaboration produced a compelling work of social justice theatre focusing on the criminal justice system. Entitled Thousand Kites, Act One of the three act play offers scripted stories from those personally affected by the criminal justice system; Act Two opens up for audience interaction; Act Three uses a moderator to direct the cast and audience in a discussion of ways to go forward. On September 23, 2017, in Whitesburg, Kentucky, the Higher Ground Project premiered its seventh production: Needle Work. The first-ever commissioned script for the Higher Ground Project, Needle Work focuses on issues surrounding substance abuse in the community, particularly the spread of infectious disease caused by the use of dirty needles. A Letcher County community coalition, including health-care providers, commissioned the play from its Harlan County neighbors. At the September 23rd premiere of Needle Work, the one-act performance was followed by an interactive audience discussion, led by two local health care providers.
Brief Outline of Paper
I. Contemporary Theatre Context (brief description of Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed, also known as applied theatre, social theatre, etc, including explanation of theoretical basis for such theatre).
II. Roadside’s Thousand Kites: analysis of ways in which this work of applied theatre (by a professional eastern Kentucky theatre) engages those impacted by the current criminal justice system, especially prisoners and families of those prisoners; discussion of intercultural communication across region, race, and ethnicity
III. Higher Ground’s latest production, Needle Work: analysis of the performance as an example of applied theatre created and performed entirely by members of a community heavily impacted by drug addiction.
IV. Synthesis: both Appalachian performance pieces exemplify contemporary trends in theatre far beyond borders of the region; both engage affected communities in enacting change, restoring agency to individuals in what Boal termed “oppressed” communities
