"Resisting ‘Authenticity’: Reflections on cultural representations in the making of theatre for children"

This chapter reflects on a project undertaken with students preparing a production for 4-7 year olds, entitled Beautiful Creatures: Safari to Africa. Methodologically, I consider this production through the lens of art from/in Africa as a way of thinking about performance and associated issues of representation and identity. I focus on what I would call the ‘lure’ of authenticity, and the related issue of ‘tradition’.