Commoning the Stage: The Complex Semantics of the Theatre Commons

The paper investigates the present role of theatre in society; in particular, it seeks to identify theatre as a peculiar, complex commons, with a precise spatial, relational and cultural syntax outlined in the first section with relevant examples. The stratification of meanings, archetypes and formats of such commons and the cultural value it has generated in different times and for different societies are described in the second section. Theatre is analysed through the commons analytical framework in the third section, identifying its characteristics of a semantic commons. The policy and strategic implications of the conceptualisation of theatre as a commons are expressed in the fourth section: in particular, its features of publicity and togetherness testify for its power to catalyse powerful instances such as the right to the city and the claim for the resurgence of the public sphere. Examples of policies and practices from the international context are provided that illustrate the emerging map of actions going towards such objectives.