Acting Identities

This book examines the Naturtheater of south west Germany. It seeks to understand why large scale open air performances have drawn little scholarly attention. Methods derived from anthropology and ethnography together with those of literary analysis are used to investigate text and context. Historically and theoretically informed, this book challenges perceptions of mass performance as light entertainment. The description of everyday life in the theatres opens up questions of identity construction, social engagement and the role of nature in cultural expression.