The first comparative study on the history and practice of popular theatre in Britain and Canada. Incorporates the individual contributions of current dramatists within the broader investigation.The fragmentation of social groups in the face of the global mass media has begun to threaten the survival of popular theatre companies. This study traces the development of various types of community theatre in Britain and overseas, from the '70s to the present day.Attention is drawn to several key issues including: -- distinctions between popular and mainstream theatre-- the Theatre in Education movement-- influence of Theatre for Development from Africa and Asia-- popular theatre as: - an art form- a process of self-empowerment- an instrument of cultural intervention- an opportunity for 'saying the unsayable'The book follows an innovative structure, integrating a comparative history of popular theatre with the contributions of current, active popular theatre makers. The co-authors shape their discourses around these contributions so that the authentic voices are neither mediated nor distorted. The book is thus designed to appeal both to the theatrical practitioner and to the academic.