Theatrical Events

Book excerpt: Theatrical Events. Borders, Dynamics and Frames is written to develop the concept of ‘Eventness’ in Theatre Studies. The book as a whole stresses the importance of understanding theatre performances as aesthetic-communicative encounters of a wide range of agents and aspects. The Theatrical Event concept means not only that performers and spectators meet, but also that the specific mental sets, backgrounds and cultural contexts they bring in, strongly contribute to the character of a particular event. Moreover, this concept gives space to the study of the role societal developments – such as technological, political, economical or educational ones – play in theatrical events.