Community Theatre

= Community Theatre as a generic term and concept =

Definition
The term is a broad one, used in a variety of senses in varuious countries, but basically it refers to performances made by, with, and for a particular community. The projects and products tend to be driven by socio-political and educational imperatives, stressing the need to involve and address performers and audiences alienated by, or disenfranchised from, the conventional amateur and commercial theatre. The emphasis is often on devised or improvised work, deriving from, based on and addressing the problems, needs and issues that pertain in that particular community.

The concept emerged as an integral part of the radical theatre movements in the 1960s, when theatre was a state of upheaval internationally and seeking political relevance. In this sense perhaps quite closely allied to the larger movement which gave rise to such concepts as Theatre for Development, Popular Theatre, People's Theatre and even Applied Theatre.

However, the concept is clearly to be distinguished from conventional amateur theatre, even though participants could include ordinary citizens, as well as the involvement of Amateur, Semi- Professional or Professional playwrights, performers, directors and so on as facilitators.