Enacting Trauma: a critical exploration of the ethical implications of staging the traumatic in contemporary British theatre

Abstract

This doctoral thesis explores the ethical implications of staging trauma and traumatic experience, specifically with regard to the experiences of spectators. It works to recognise the need to address and explore trauma and traumatic experience in art and culture broadly and in theatre and performance specifically, and it considers how to do so in the most ethical ways. The research contributes to a vital shading of the gap between the schools of trauma theory, trauma representation in theatre, affect theory, and audience research. It also speaks to the importance of collaboration between industry and academy through the research activities undertaken with the Royal Court Theatre. The thesis begins with laying out the theoretical framework for the work; drawing together existing audience research and trauma theory to work in conversation (see Ch 1). It moves on to analyse artistic and formal approaches to staging trauma, examining uses of sound and lighting (see Ch 2), gaze and the positioning of bodies in space (see Ch 3), textual approaches and direct address (see Ch 4), and verbatim theatremaking processes (see Ch 5). Finally, the thesis examines the role of institutions and organisations in the production of new theatre in the UK (see Ch 6). In this section, qualitative research approaches are utilised in collaboration with the Royal Court Theatre to examine ‘paratheatrical’ approaches to staging trauma, e.g. the use of trigger and content warnings, relaxed performances and venues, and the consideration of the theatre venue as a civic space. The thesis identifies patterns of impact and ethical implication in both aesthetic and paratheatrical approaches to staging trauma. It draws these together to advance a more considered approach to theatrical interpretations of traumatic experience, and to the experiences of traumatised people within and subsequently beyond theatrical environments.

Date of Award	22 May 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Northumbria University
Supervisor	Patrick Duggan (Supervisor) & Solomon Lennox (Supervisor)