Contemporary Farce on the Global Stage: or, Serious Laughter David Gram 9780367219284

• Gives a social and cultural context for every period of farce, giving readers a clear understanding of how and why the form has evolved over time.
• The only comprehensive and up to date account of farce and its development.
• Designed specifically to give theatre-makers a rounded understanding that will underpin their own productions.

David Gram is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA. He has been a theatre and opera director, actor, dramaturg, and playwright for over 25 years. Other research interests include musical theatre, Shakespeare and Jacobean drama, and new play development.

"Whether an actor, director, designer, or audience member, Contemporary Farce on the Global Stage is an exceptional resource for deconstructing the elusive form of farce. Accessible and actionable, the book's clear definitions and numerous examples empower artists to understand and embrace "the math" in each beat. Starting rehearsal for Noises Off, I'm thankful to have Gram's insight and guidance heading into the work. He has written a must-have for lovers of farce."

Tommy Wedge, Associate Professor of Theatre, Saginaw Valley State University, USA

"[Gram's] book extends our understanding of the long tradition of farce to include plays of the 21st Century. It therefore demonstrates that the art of farce is not valuable simply because it persists, but because the form itself continues to evolve. Farce continues to be an essential dramatic structure, one to which both playwrights and audiences repeatedly return. As a playwright who has sought to tell some of his stories in this form, I'm indebted to Gram for his scholarship."

Ken Ludwig, Award-winning Playwright, USA