Top Ten Tuesday: Stagey (Non-Fiction) book recommendations

Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday! Last week we counted down our top ten fiction book recommendations so this week we will be focusing on our top ten NON-fiction picks.

Whether you are a theatre student or someone who just wants to learn more about the practices of theatre, this list has got you covered. We have tried to keep the list as inclusive of all areas of theatre as possible but please let us know in the comments if you want some more in-depth lists of recommendations. 

DISCLAIMER: We are in no way suggesting that these books need to be read religiously or that everything in theatre must be understood to enjoy it. This list is just for those of you who enjoy learning more about theatre and are good resources to dip in and out of at your pleasure.

10. Studying Musical Theatre (Dominic Taylor and Millie Taylor)

This book is a really brilliant introduction to the theory and practice of musical theatre, as well as offering episodical features about the history of musical theatre. It offers a nice starting point into understanding theories like orientalism, capitalism and several others. And through understanding these theories, we can better understand the context surrounding the creation and performance of some of our favourite musicals.

9. Theatre Histories (ed. Bruce McConachie, Tobin Nellhaus, Carol Fisher Sorengfrei and Tamara Underiner)

This book is perfect for those of you who are fascinated by theatre from around the world. Not only this but the history timeline covered spans from 500BCE to the present. This book has a compilation of essays that offer insightful discussions of theatre from different cultures which is really pleasing and encouraging to see. This book is a fantastic option if you are looking to broaden your understanding of world theatre.

8. A Theory of Adaptation (Linda Hutcheon)

For those of you out there who enjoy musicals based on books and films, then you should 100% consider flicking through this book. It offers a well-rounded introduction to the theory of adaptation, explaining some of the what’s, why’s and how’s that come with it. The book references examples from various mediums making it really easy to read – perfect for anyone looking to be introduced to this practice. 

7. The Routledge Companion to Dramaturgy (ed. Magda Romanska)

Dramaturgy is pretty loaded term and is still being established in the world of theatre. Although this book is vast (and very long), there are a range of chapters that offer a closer look at dramaturgy and how it operates and functions. There are chapters which explains dramaturgy in different countries, as well as other chapters that breakdown dramaturgy for various mediums such as devised theatre, directing and literary adaptation. If there is a specific route of dramaturgy that might interest you, then give this book a go. You never know, you could be pleasantly surprised. 

6. The Disney Musical on Stage and Screen (ed. George Rodosthenous) 

Who doesn’t love a little bit of Disney? If you are anything like us, Besties, then you might find this book to be a brilliant gateway in the academic criticism of musical theatre. This book talks about all of your favourite Disney musicals from Snow White to Mary Poppins to Frozen and even covers areas like the Disney Jr channel. Not only is it an easy book to dip into – with so many fascinating chapters by incredible academics – it discusses some really interesting themes that you might not immediately think of when it comes to Disney.

5. Cultural Identity in British Musical Theatre, 1890-1939 (Dr Ben Macpherson)

This is a fascinating book covering the idea of ‘Britishness’ in musical theatre. Covering topics such as class, gender and the interwar period, this book offers an insightful investigation of the evolution of the British musical theatre. And although it is a more difficult read, it is certainly something to look at.

4. An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory (Andrew Bennett and Nicolas Royle)

Although this is more focused on literature, the way we study literature has had a significant impact on how we study theatre and for that reason, this book makes the list. This book covers all areas of literary criticism from Marxism to Queer Theory to Postcolonialism – all of which are themes that can be found in many of our favourite plays and musicals. And because this book is ‘an introduction’, it is a really nice read and is always a main source text when needing to understand a new term. 

3. Performance Theory (Richard Schechner) 

Arguably the most complex book on this list but so worth it if you are a fan of alternative theatres. As much as there is a focus on the West End and Broadway musical, there are so many incredible performances being made out there that fit into this complex bracket of ‘alternative’. This book out of context may seem confusing but in the context of considering alternative modes and methods of theatre, it is interesting. Let us know if you want more on alternative theatres, Besties…

2. Enchanted Evenings: The Broadway Musical from Showboat to Sondheim and Lloyd Webber (Geoffrey Block)

This book gives a brilliant history of the mainstream Broadway musical in as much that it explains what the Broadway musical was like before major events and people: Act 1 of the book explains what the American musical was like before Rodgers and Hammerstein; Act 2 focuses on the American musical after the influential integrated musical Oklahoma! And the epilogue looks at the American musical in the age of Sondheim and Lloyd Webber. It offers an interesting breakdown of each key musical and how it impacted the Broadway musical as we currently know it. 

1. The Oxford Handbook of the British Musical (ed. Gordon Jubin)

Taking the number one spot must obviously be a book about the British musical and its impact. This book gives a brief overview of the British musical theatre from the English musical comedy of the 1890s to the Post-War decade, to the more recent pop-music industry. Not only this but there are interesting chapters written about some of the most influential theatre practitioners – such as Joan Littlewood, Tim Rice and Cameron Mackintosh - and how they placed their stamp on the British musical 

And there we have it Besties – our top ten picks for non-fiction book recommendations. Let us know what you think in the comments and what are your favourite non-fiction books about theatre?

Wishing you all a fantastic week and see you next week for another Top Ten Tuesday!