This course provides an introduction to the history, theory and analysis of western theatre and dance in the 20^th and 21^st century. The course focuses on theatre in the broad sense of the word and provides an introduction to different genres - including drama and text-based theatre, dance, children’s and youth theatre, musical and cabaret - and related theoretical issues - such as the role of the child in children’s and youth theatre, the political implications of humour in cabaret and stand-up comedy and the theatricalization of contemporary mediatized societies. The lectures present an overview of important historical developments in western theatre in the 20^th and 21^st century. The working groups are meant for the close reading of theoretical texts and the analysis of theatre performances. The format used for the analysis of performance works is that of a dramaturgical analysis. The dramaturgical analysis focuses on three dramaturgical levels of a performance: a. the composition principles used to organize the relationship between performer and audience; b. the way in which the viewer is addressed or positioned by these composition principles; and c. the relationship between the performance and society at large.
The course also brings students in touch with the work field through performance visits, after talks with performers and a workshop by dance dramaturge Peggy Olislaegers.

This course is part of Core Profile 2 of Media and Culture in English and builds on historical and theoretical knowledge gained in Core Profile 1. The course provides a further training of academic skills, with a special focus on analytical skills.