PERFORMING THE SOCIAL Education, Care and Social Inclusion through Theatre

Although belonging to the wider family of applied theatre, social theatre has some specific historical, methodological and contextual characteristics. When taking part in social theatre, people, groups and even larger, more recognisable social systems actively transform and improve their life-worlds through their direct involvement in theatrical, ludic, festive and performative practices. The actors’, authors’ and spectators’ participation in such cultural practices – combined with powerful representations, actions and relationships – leads to symbolic inner growth and regeneration in the social body.This book, which opens with an introduction by Claudio Bernardi, explores the whys and wherefores of social theatre with particular attention to Italy. It is structured around two types of contribution. One comes from the interventions of some of the speakers at the International Conference Performing the Social.Education,Care and Social Inclusion through Theatre, held in Milan on 20-21 September 2019.They are Isabel Bezelga, Marco De Marinis, David Le Breton, Tim Prentki,Pier Cesare Rivoltella, Diana Taylor, James Thompson and Emmanuel Wallon. The second part is a more direct result of the Research Project of Nation-al Relevance (PRIN) with the same title; namely the application of social theatre in the fields of education, health and inclusion.The authors of these essays are Carla Bino, Roberta Carpani, Livia Cavaglieri, Guido Di Palma, Fabrizio Fiaschini, Roberta Gandolfi, Giulia Innocenti Malini, Stefano Locatelli, Alberto Pagliarino, Alessandro Pontremoli,Alessandra Rossi Ghiglione.