Theatre & therapy

´Theatre amateurs and professionals will often claim that theatre "saved my life". But what, more specifically, might be the curative properties of theatre? What is the nature of its cure? And, conversely, how has the theatre figured in the imaginary and development of other kinds of "taking cures"? In this smartly organised and lucidly written book, Fintan Walsh illuminates the therapeutic effects and affects of theatrical performance, and the theatrical inspirations for Western therapeutic practices. Theatre & Therapy takes the reader from the more expected historical examples of Aristotle´s catharsis and Freud´s interpretation of dreams to the less frequently ploughed terrain of contemporary performance practices that experiment with affective intensity or intensive listening as therapeutic. This is an authoritative and nuanced introduction to the field. I felt better at the end of this book.´ - Erin Hurley, McGill University, USA