In 'Digging up stories', James Thompson explores the problems of theatre practice in communities affected by war and exclusion. Each chapter or 'story' is written in a lively and accessible style and draws on a range of contemporary performance theories. The chapters discuss: - participatory theatre in refugee camps - theatre workshop and stories of a massacre - traditional dance-dramas in an insurgent controlled village - 'Forum' theatre with the Mahabharata - ethical issues - the struggle to teach the author to dance 'Digging up stories' documents a range of theatre practice and includes project reports, ethnographic accounts, performance analysis and diary-style reflection. Taken from Thompson's research and practice in Sri Lanka, these diverse examples question the link between applied theatre, traditional performance and performances in everyday life. The book blurs lines between research and travel writing to create rich and provocative accounts of applying theatre in a troubled setting. -- .
1. Words of introduction/words of caution 2. Going nowhere 3. Arriving in Sri Lanka 4. A previous workshop example: an archaeology of theatre in war 5. Hatton workshops 6. Batticaloa 7. Seeing is believing? Three more workshop examples 8. Finding Kooththu 9. Another aside on games 10. Burning the drums 11. Dance Class 12. Sitars 13. Memorials 14. Forum Kooththu 15. A public workshop 16. Malaria maps 17. Human rights/cultural rights 18. A theatre of attack: visit to Suriya 19. In the presence of the leader 20. Refugee camp theatre 21. On watching children's theatre 22. Memorials 2: wearing the poppy 23. Nowhere again 24. Finding Kolam 25. A final aside on games 26. Anti-diagnosis: theatre, not case-histories 27. Open ceremony: development performed 28. The Thin Strip 29. Arts projects and Christmas lights: a final turn in the theatre of war 30. Inconclusivity -- .
