Conflict, Theatrical Production, and Pedagogy

Abstract

Conflict generated in theatre productions in university theatre departments is unique to its context. Issues of role ambiguity; scarce resources; fear and response to the unknown or unfamiliar; and power relations, among others, influence both the generation and the management of conflict. Examining such conflict and the behaviors used to engage it, the authors consider what alternate “performances” might be available to handle conflict effectively and wholly. The authors wonder what fully communal performances and discourses of experience are possible? Using metaphor and concepts of the rhizomatic story, the authors examine conflict issues generated in actual student production contexts.