Synopsis:

 This is a provocative and accessible way into this important topic at an affordable price. This is one of the first titles in a vibrant and eye-catching new series of 'short, sharp, shots' for theatre students. It is an original intervention into the field arguing that in a post 9/11 world of spectacularized suffering, the relationship between human rights is not only vital, but complex and contested. This is the first book to provide a survey of theatre and human rights. With its impassioned plays, inspired activism and outspoken artists, the theatre has long provided a venue for promoting and practising human rights. Drawing on a range of international examples, this short, sharp and timely book examines the challenges presented by the contested relationship between theatre and human rights.