Performative Theatre: a queer theatre?

Abstract

Researcher Josette Féral has studied the reciprocity between performativity and theatricality in the field of theatrical studies. With the term “performative theatre”, she intends to build continuity between the notions against the traditional view which opposes theatre and performance. Taking her works as a starting point, I explore the dynamics of what I call the state of trans- (trance, transition, transformation, transidentity, transgression, transfer…) in performative theatre. The idea is therefore to go beyond the dualisms that oppose theatre and performance as well as femininity and masculinity, among others. How did the performative turn foster the emergence of a queer theatre? To what extent does this affect the way bodies exist on stage?

Keywords

• performance arts
• performativity
• performance and theatre studies
• queer
• gender
• performative theatre
• body