This is an essential read for anyone setting out to study the thrilling world of theatre for the first time. Introducing you to all the aspects of drama, theatre and performance you will be studying in your course, from the theoretical to the practical, Theatre Studies: The Basicswill take you through such topics as:

• dramatic genres, from tragedy to political documentary
• theories of performance
• the history of the theatre in the West
• acting, directing and scenography
• the audience.

Drawing on a wide range of examples, from Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannusto Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti's controversial Behzti, and including chapter summaries and pointers to further reading, Theatre Studies: The Basicshas all you need to get your studies off to a flying start.