Theatre, Development, and the Problems with Partnership

Bringing together literature and perspectives from development studies and applied theatre/Theatre for Development, this chapter outlines problems and possibilities regarding transnational partnerships involving North and South actors which underpin and guide the rest of the book. It is argued that adequately analysing TfD partnerships requires an understanding of ongoing colonial legacies that shape practice, attention to issues of power, and an awareness of how racial injustice intersects with these issues. Those already familiar with applied theatre and TfD may prefer to focus on the sections that expand on development and vice-versa. In short, the chapter brings together the various arguments to show what an interdisciplinary theoretical framework tells us about the problems of theatre, development, and partnerships.