CONTEMPORARY THEATRE REVIEW

Scope & Guideline

Unveiling New Perspectives in Contemporary Theatre

Introduction

Welcome to the CONTEMPORARY THEATRE REVIEW information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of CONTEMPORARY THEATRE REVIEW, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1048-6801
PublisherTAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Converge1992, from 1994 to 2024
AbbreviationCONTEMP THEATRE REV / Contemp. Theatre Rev.
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address2-4 PARK SQUARE, MILTON PARK, ABINGDON OR14 4RN, OXON, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

The 'Contemporary Theatre Review' serves as a platform for critical dialogue and innovative research in the field of contemporary theatre. The journal's aims and scopes reflect a commitment to exploring diverse methodologies and perspectives, engaging with both traditional and avant-garde practices.
  1. Contemporary Performance Analysis:
    The journal focuses on examining contemporary performance practices, exploring how they reflect and interact with societal issues, including politics, identity, and culture.
  2. Interdisciplinary Approaches:
    It encourages interdisciplinary research that combines theatre studies with other fields such as sociology, visual arts, and digital media, fostering a comprehensive understanding of performance.
  3. Global Perspectives:
    The journal emphasizes global theatre practices, highlighting voices and narratives from diverse cultural backgrounds, particularly in relation to decolonization and transnationalism.
  4. Critical Engagement with Technology:
    It explores the impact of technology on performance, including digital theatre and immersive experiences, examining how these innovations reshape audience engagement and artistic expression.
  5. Focus on Social Justice and Activism:
    The journal frequently addresses themes of social justice, activism, and community engagement within theatre, showcasing works that challenge the status quo and advocate for marginalized voices.
  6. Historical Contextualization:
    There is a consistent focus on placing contemporary works within historical contexts, analyzing how past movements influence current practices and ideologies.
Recent publications in the 'Contemporary Theatre Review' reveal a shift towards several emerging themes that reflect current societal trends and academic interests in the field of theatre. This section outlines these trending topics, highlighting their relevance and potential impact.
  1. Decolonization and Indigenous Narratives:
    There is a growing emphasis on decolonizing methodologies within theatre, focusing on Indigenous narratives and practices that challenge colonial histories and representations.
  2. Queer Performance and Identity:
    The journal is increasingly addressing queer identities and performance practices, exploring how these themes intersect with broader societal issues of representation and activism.
  3. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic:
    Recent articles reflect on the transformative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on theatre and performance, examining how artists have adapted and responded to the challenges posed by the crisis.
  4. Sensory and Experiential Engagement:
    A notable trend is the exploration of sensory engagement in theatre, including olfactory and immersive experiences that enhance audience participation and connection to the performance.
  5. Political Performance and Activism:
    There is heightened attention to political performance as a form of activism, analyzing how contemporary works respond to pressing social issues and mobilize audiences for change.
  6. Digital and Hybrid Performance:
    Emerging themes in digital and hybrid performance reflect a shift towards integrating technology into live theatre, exploring new forms of storytelling and audience interaction.

Declining or Waning

As the field of contemporary theatre evolves, certain themes and methodologies appear to be losing prominence within the 'Contemporary Theatre Review'. This section highlights the areas that have become less frequent in recent publications.
  1. Traditional Theatre Forms:
    There is a noticeable decline in the exploration of traditional theatre forms, such as classical plays and conventional narratives, as the journal shifts towards more experimental and interdisciplinary approaches.
  2. Eurocentric Perspectives:
    The journal has gradually moved away from Eurocentric perspectives in theatre criticism, indicating a waning interest in works that do not engage with global or decolonial narratives.
  3. Static Performance Analysis:
    The focus on static or text-based performance analysis is decreasing, as the journal emphasizes more dynamic and interactive forms of performance that engage audiences in new ways.
  4. Historical Theatre Criticism:
    While historical analysis remains important, there seems to be a reduction in articles solely focused on historical theatre criticism without connecting to contemporary implications or practices.
  5. Cultural Homogeneity:
    There is less emphasis on culturally homogeneous narratives, as the journal increasingly prioritizes diverse and intersectional approaches to performance that reflect a broader range of experiences.

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