Theatre after Covid

Innovation or Path Dependence?

Abstract

Drawing on a mixed methods approach, this paper will present findings from survey data and discourse analysis of materials gathered in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. It asks the question whether the exogenous shock brought about by the Covid pandemic has prompted theatres to innovate. Starting from the theory of path dependence which suggests that institutional change is extremely difficult, the paper will argue that preliminary findings do indeed point to transformations that affect both technological and institutional dimensions of theatre, particularly in the field of digital infrastructure and knowhow. The differences vary, however, considerably across the countries and theatre systems surveyed which provide a point of departure for a discussion on systemic differences. The surveys also provide some surprising results concerning work satisfaction and income as support programmes ensured that theatre workers could survive and in fact reduced pressure to produce and perform on schedules that were often deemed unsustainable.