Avant Garde Theatre: 18921992 - A Rigorous History of Theatrical

In this review of Avant Garde Theatre: 18921992 the reader will find a rigorous, historically grounded account of theatrical experimentation and its recurring return to elemental ritual. Christopher Innes traces avant garde currents from the 1890s to modern practice, arguing that a persistent primitivist impulse unites figures from Strindberg to Artaud and Brook. This book is for scholars and serious theatre practitioners who want a critical synthesis of political and aesthetic forces that shaped modern theatre rather than a simple chronology.

Key Features

• Comprehensive historical sweep: The book follows avant garde theatre from the 1890s through late 20th-century developments, helping readers situate modern practices in historical context.
• Theoretical integration: Innes updates the original text with recent developments in anthropology and critical theory, offering a deeper interpretive framework.
• Focus on primitivism: The author highlights an overarching theme-an idealisation of elemental ritual-to explain links between disparate practitioners and movements.
• Revisions and updates: Material first published as Holy Theatre has been fully revised to reflect new research and contemporary debates in theatre studies.
• Case studies of major figures: Discussions of Strindberg, Artaud, Brook and Mnouchkine provide concrete examples that illustrate broader arguments about politics and aesthetics.

Who It's For

Avant Garde Theatre: 18921992 is best suited to graduate students, theatre historians, and directors interested in the intellectual currents behind experimental performance. Its emphasis on theory and cross-disciplinary links will reward readers who seek a critical lens rather than a handbook of staging techniques.

Readers seeking practical stagecraft instruction, play scripts, or an introductory overview for casual reading may find the book dense; those audiences should look for more practice-focused or introductory texts instead.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear synthesis of a wide chronological range that makes historical connections apparent.
• Updated commentary draws on anthropology and psychotherapy to broaden interpretive tools.
• Concrete discussions of influential practitioners give weight to abstract claims.

Cons

• The book's theoretical emphasis and dense analysis may be demanding for casual readers or those seeking practical staging guidance.

Specifications

Title	Avant Garde Theatre: 18921992
Author	C. D. InnesChristopher Innes
Scope	History and criticism of avant garde theatre
Original publication	Originally published as Holy Theatre (revised)
Chronological range	From the 1890s to the present day (through 1992)
Theoretical sources	Anthropology, critical theory, psychotherapy

Our Verdict

Avant Garde Theatre: 18921992 is a valuable, well-argued resource for researchers and practitioners who want to understand the intellectual roots of modern theatrical experimentation. Its updated theoretical framing and focused study of primitivism make it a worthwhile investment for those seeking depth and historical coherence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover modern theatre up to the late 20th century?
Yes; the revised edition follows developments from the 1890s through the present day as of the book's update, bringing the original Holy Theatre text up to date.

Is this a practical guide to staging avant garde work?
No; the book is a critical and theoretical history meant for analysis rather than hands-on staging instruction.

Which practitioners are discussed as examples?
The text links figures such as Strindberg, Artaud, Brook and Mnouchkine to demonstrate recurring primitivist themes in modern theatre.