Directing for Community Theatre
Editors: Daniel L. Patterson
Publisher: Routledge; 2023
“Directing for Community Theatre” is a practical guide for amateur directors seeking to lead successful community theatre productions. Emphasising preparation, it covers essential topics such as play analysis, staging, blocking, and collaboration with actors and production teams. The book provides sample forms and tools—including rehearsal schedules, audition sheets, and character analyses—to support directors from planning through to performance. Designed for those new to directing or already involved in community theatre, it offers clear, actionable advice to navigate the creative and logistical demands of the role.
Engineers Of The Imagination: Welfare State Handbook
Editors: Tony Coult, Baz Kershaw
Publisher: Methuen Drama, 2014
This practical handbook offers insight into the distinctive celebratory theatre of Welfare State International, founded by John Fox in 1968. Known for uniting audiences through powerful imagery, the company blends archetypal and contemporary elements in large-scale, community-focused performances. The book provides guidance on creating processions, giant puppets, fire and ice effects, shadow theatre, and more, while contextualising the artistic philosophy behind the work. Designed as a hands-on resource, it captures the spirit and methods of one of the UK’s most innovative theatre collectives.
Theatre of the Oppressed
Author: Augusto Boal
Publisher : Theatre Communications Group, 1993
The Theatre of the Oppressed (TO), developed by Brazilian practitioner Augusto Boal in the 1970s, uses theatre to inspire social and political change. Influenced by Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, TO encourages audience participation, turning spectators into “spect-actors” who actively engage with and challenge their lived realities. Initially rooted in radical-left politics, the approach later aligned more broadly with centre-left ideology and gained traction in Europe.
Games for Actors and Non-Actors
Author: Augusto Boal
Publisher: Routledge, 2021
The Theatre of the Oppressed (TO), developed by Brazilian practitioner Augusto Boal in the 1970s, uses theatre to inspire social and political change. Influenced by Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, TO encourages audience participation, turning spectators into “spect-actors” who actively engage with and challenge their lived realities. Initially rooted in radical-left politics, the approach later aligned more broadly with centre-left ideology and gained traction in Europe.
BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES WITH ART
Author: Joe Schipani
Building Stronger Communities with Art by Joe Schipani is a practical guide for organising community mural festivals. Drawing from his work with the Flint Public Art Project and the Free City Mural Festival, Schipani outlines key steps—from planning and artist curation to funding and partnerships. Emphasising collaboration and community engagement, the book offers real-life examples and actionable insights for creating impactful public art that unites and inspires neighbourhoods.
Beginner’s Guide to Community-Based Arts
Illustrators:: Keith Knight, Mat Schwarzman
Publisher: New Village Press, 2017
Ten transformative local arts projects come alive in the revised second edition of this comics-illustrated training manual for teens, youth leaders, and young activists. This energetic guidebook demonstrates the enormous power of art in grassroots social change. It presents proven models of community-based arts programs, plus techniques, discussion questions, and plentiful resources.This improved second edition includes updated resources and guidelines, along with a new comic art introduction by illustrator Keith Knight.
Community Arts Center Handbook
Author: Henry Sanoff, Evrim Demir Mishchenko
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016
“The Community Arts Center Handbook” is a practical, illustrated guide designed to support arts organisations through the planning and design of community arts centres. Emphasising participatory visioning, it outlines methods for engaging communities, assessing local assets, and aligning facility needs with programme goals. It highlights the importance of transparent communication and informed decision-making, especially in resource-limited contexts. Featuring contributions from international practitioners and drawing on Henry Sanoff’s global experience, the book equips arts groups to navigate design, planning, and management challenges more effectively.
Community Engagement A Complete Guide
Author: The Art of Service
Publisher: Community Engagement Publishing, 2021
“Community Engagement: A Complete Guide” offers a comprehensive self-assessment toolkit for evaluating and enhancing community engagement practices. Organised into seven levels of maturity, the guide presents updated, case-based questions to help users diagnose and improve projects, organisations, and strategies. It supports evidence-based decision-making and the integration of best practices in engagement and process design. The included digital tools generate a Community Engagement Scorecard, enabling users to prioritise initiatives and align actions with organisational goals.
Playing for Time
making art as if the world mattered
Author: Lucy Neal
Publisher: Triarchy Press, 2023
Playing for Time is a handbook for artists, activists, and anyone seeking to use creativity as a catalyst for social and ecological change. It explores the vital role of collaborative arts in reimagining the future amidst global uncertainty, positioning artists as truth-tellers and community agents. Featuring contributions from fifty practitioners, the book offers inspiring case studies and practical “recipes for action.” Rooted in the Transition movement, it advocates for a shift from consumerism to community, resilience, and creative collaboration across sectors.
An Introduction to Community Dance Practice
Editer: Diane Amans
Publisher: Bloomsbury publishing, 2017
This comprehensive text, edited by a respected industry professional, brings together contributions from dance artists, practitioners, and academics. Covering topics such as duty of care, inclusive practice, and project coordination, it combines insightful discussions with practical guidance. Enriched with case studies, interviews, and resources, it bridges theory and real-world application. Designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students in community dance, theater, and performance studies, it also serves as a valuable resource for both emerging and experienced community dance practitioners.
Beautiful Rising: Creative Resistance from the Global South
Editors: Dave Oswald Mitchell, Juman Abujbara, Andrew Boyd, Marcel Taminato
Publisher : OR Books, 2018
Beautiful Rising is a vital resource for activists, sharing creative strategies for resistance drawn from grassroots organisers across the Global South. Developed through collaborative sessions in cities like Yangon, Kampala, and Oaxaca, it presents powerful stories of inventive protests, from Ugandans using pigs to challenge corruption to Lebanese campaigns against political stagnation. Combining practical tools with deep activist principles, this book offers hope and guidance for those seeking to drive social change and challenge injustice worldwide.
Community Plays and How to Put them on
Author: Ann Jellicoe
Publisher: Methuen, 1987
In Community Plays and How to Put Them On, Ann Jellicoe shares her pioneering approach to community theatre, drawing on her 1985 production Entertaining Strangers with the people of Dorchester. This detailed guide outlines the methods developed by the Colway Theatre Trust for staging large-scale community plays, highlighting how theatre can strengthen communities. The book includes 32 pages of photographs documenting the creative process and remains a valuable resource for community arts practitioners.