Museum theatre is our principal research area.
In addition to being an established form of live interpretation it is also a valuable tool in practice-based archives & heritage research due to its ability to create space for the exploration of behaviours, ideas, and moral values of the past in a way that invites analysis and critical reflection. Find out more about our research interests here:
The digital landscape has revolutionized historical interpretation and accessibility, ushering in a new era of engagement. Digital public history utilizes innovative tools to visually portray historical events and construct narratives that transcend traditional textual limitations and explore new modalities of engagement. This paradigm shift extends beyond the mere digitization of artifacts and environments to encompass immersive learning experiences, transmedia storytelling and collaborative narrative construction characterized by interactive technologies and user-generated content. Moreover, the impact of digital history extends beyond the museum walls, democratizing access to historical materials through digital repositories and online archives. Platforms such as Europeana have revolutionized the way scholars, educators, and the public access primary sources, transcending geographical constraints and fostering collaborative scholarship.
Of particular significance, from Heterotopia’s perspective, is the incorporation of first-person narratives into digital history, drawing upon the rich tradition of museum theatre to bring historical figures to life in the digital realm. This represents a departure from conventional methods of historical interpretation, opening up new avenues for exploration and understanding. Heterotopia supports and conducts research at the forefront of this evolution. We are interested in the integration of theatre and performance practice into the design and delivery of synchronous and asynchronous* museum learning programmes, and we also explore the value of in-role/costumed interpretation, both as a form of digital cultural heritage content and as a model of user interaction in the context of virtual learning experiences.
*Synchronous programmes, characterized by real-time interactions between educators/interpreters and learners, bring the museum experience to life in virtual classrooms, fostering dynamic exchanges and immersive encounters with cultural artifacts. On the other hand, asynchronous learning programmes offer flexibility and self-paced exploration, empowering learners to delve deeper into historical narratives at their own convenience.
Museums have long served as educational platforms, but in the context of a growing awareness of their capacity and their duty to foster cultural democracy, contemporary museums strive to go beyond mere dissemination of information, aiming instead to contextualize historical narratives through dialogue, engage multiple senses, and evoke both intellectual and emotional connections with the past. The acknowledgement of the social and civic role of museums, their ability to shape values and foster knowledge creation within society, has been pivotal in aligning with the aims of the current discourse on 21st century education. The evolution of museum learning mirrors advancements in educational theory, emphasizing active engagement with experiences to make sense of the world.
Museums – still one of the most trusted sources of knowledge in society today – can play a pivotal role in promoting peaceful co-existence, environmental awareness and mutual understanding through the exploration of diverse perspectives on the past. As museums increasingly adopt audience-centered design strategies, they are able to provide interactive, inquiry-based learning experiences that combine dialogic mediation and interpretation practices with authentic encounters with objects, places and stories of the past. Museum theatre is one of many tools available to museums in this space, and is known to be uniquely capable of bringing to life the complexity of the historical, social and political processes that form various views on reality. Heterotopia’s research in the field of museum learning concerns itself with the design and impact of formal and informal educational programmes that incorporate theatre and drama.
“An educational activity which aims to reveal meanings and relationships through the use of original objects, by firsthand experience, and by illustrative media, rather than simply to communicate factual information” (Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage, 1957).
Museum theatre is an interpretive strategy, a form of interpretation, that uses the techniques of theatre to facilitate understanding of cultural and natural heritage. Two of the things that set museum theatre apart from other forms of person-led / ‘live’ interpretation (guided tours, talks, demonstrations, etc.) are:
This method captivates audiences, allowing them to connect with heritage on a deeper level and enhance their understanding and appreciation of diverse cultural traditions, perspectives and stories. Heterotopia’s research seeks to further our shared understanding of the impact and the potential of museum theatre: i.e., the specific contribution of live performance, theatre and drama in the context of contemporary heritage interpretation.
“Cultural heritage does not end at monuments and collections of objects. It also includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts”. UNESCO*
Conserving the vast and varied repertoires of human knowledge and experience, in the face of globalization and the climate crisis, is an important factor both for maintaining cultural diversity and for safeguarding skills and knowledge that might ensure our survival as a species. Museum theatre is an especially effective tool for fostering appreciation and understanding of cultural identities. In bringing traditions and practices to life through performance, museum theatre can demonstrate with nuance the ideas and values which underpin them. Heterotopia’s research here is particularly focused on exploring performance/delivery formats that enable real time dialogue, encounter and exchange with the audience.
*for a wonderfully detailed view of the diversity and interconnectedness of living heritage, see UNESCO’s ‘Dive into Intangible Cultural Heritage’
As set out by the University of British Columbia in their Historical Thinking Project (2016), historically literate citizens are able to interrogate historical sources and assess the legitimacy of claims made on the basis of historical events. They understand that history and heritage are processes of knowledge creation and can, thus, articulate their views and engage in respectful debate concerning the uses and abuses of history.
At a time when museums and cultural institutions remain one of the most trusted sources of information, they have a vital role to play in promoting democratic values and supporting public understanding of the ethical dimensions of history. Heterotopia undertakes and supports research into museum theatre’s specific value in this context; where it can engage audiences in dramatized, dialogic encounters that aim to highlight the historical significance of an event. Here, museum theatre can promote historical thinking by foregrounding elements of cause and consequence and by exploring multiple human factors and ethical dimensions from a first-person perspective. It is uniquely capable of enhancing both historical empathy and critical reflection by connecting audiences to the complexities of the past and by drawing out comparisons to the present day.
