DRA360

Show Business: Theatre and Capitalism

Level 6 (15 credits)

What kind of business is show business? This module explores the relationship between theatre and capitalism. It examines key economic problems as they arise in the theatre (e.g. "star" performers, box office, theatre as entertainment, theatre as a "creative industry," theatre and real estate). It also considers how performance offers a distinctive lens through which to think about broader practices and relations (e.g. neoliberalism, globalisation, urban development) that have become central to our everyday lives.

Preparing for this Module and Approximate Costs

 
Why take
Show Business: Theatre and Capitalism
?

  • Learn why show business is a lot like other businesses (except when it isn't).
  • Explore the relationship between theatre and capitalism, both onstage and offstage, in different times and places.
  • Learn about theatre economics, and what theatre can tell us about the wider economy.
Learning Context Seminar-based
Semester Two
Assessment
  1. Written Exercise (1000 words), 25%
  2. Essay (3000 words), 75%
Mode of reassessment Standard
Contact