Environmental Theater Book

Although I am not a big fan of environmental theatre, Schnechner does an excellent job of explaining it in this book. I only read the opening couple of sections, but the way that Schechner talks about using space as part of a theatrical performance is really insightful. I especially like the idea that space, along with the actors, the text, props, and audiences must all exist in what he calls transactional relationships. In other words, the environmental theatre experience isn't one in which there is a specific set constructed according to a designer's vision, and a performance built through the actors' and director's vision, and a text written according to an author's vision. Instead, all of these elements and more grow together into a unified project developing into a whole.