Round Table Rumbles 2005

Friday 24 June:
Critics and Criticism

With the theatre critics being slaughtered nightly in the Lyttelton, what exactly is their role? Are they mere guides to the market or can they educate and deepen our appreciation? Some argue that critics have too much power: what gives them the right to cast judgement on others’ work?

Friday 1 July:
Identity in crisis

With the arts at the centre of the multiculturalism debate, there are many questions about its role. Does cultural diversity militate against social cohesion and lead to division and distrust? Is culture hopelessly divided into ethnic categories, or can we aspire to a common culture? Is Shakespeare part of a distinctively British or even English heritage? Is the idea of universal culture a utopian dream?

Friday 8 July:
Politics and Power

Recent years have seen a resurgence of political theatre, with playwrights taking on the big issues of the day, from war to privatisation. However, political cynicism and the lack of interest in the recent general election highlight doubts about the legitimacy of government. Where has politics gone wrong and how does theatre address our sense of disenfranchisement?

Friday 15 July:
Relationships under strain

It is said that everybody dies alone, but if the stuff of life is connecting with others, is this the stuff of drama too? With the decline of ‘the family’, is there any hope for lasting relationships in the absence of binding traditions? How does contemporary theatre capture the shifting meaning of human relationships?