Politics and Theatre in Asia

An Introductory Overview

Abstract

This paper presents an introductory overview of the complex interplay between politics and theatre in Asia, highlighting how historical, colonial, and postcolonial contexts have shaped theatrical traditions across the region. Asian politics, deeply influenced by colonial histories, exhibits a common legacy of European and Japanese imperialism that transformed indigenous states into colonial ones while maintaining a formal semblance of traditional governance. This duality of colonial and indigenous influences extended to theatre, where traditional forms such as Noh, Kabuki, and Kathakali coexisted with European-style theatres introduced during colonization. Using examples like the Malaysian play Sri Mersing, the paper examines how colonial and postcolonial narratives inform theatre's layered meanings, often reflecting implicit political tensions. The duality in theatre is further explored through case studies like Singapore’s Chaozhou Opera, which illustrates the intersection of local traditions and political affiliations, as well as Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, which transitioned from depicting Chinese classics to exploring Taiwan’s identity within the Cold War context. The paper also discusses how Japanese imperialism influenced East and Southeast Asian theatre differently, leaving behind anti-Japanese dramatic works that contrast with the symbolic critiques of Western colonialism, such as Roestam Effendi’s Bebasari. Additionally, Japanese postwar theatre, exemplified by Shuji Terayama’s ambivalent portrayal of U.S.-Japan relations, reveals how theatre navigated national identity and modernity without overt nationalism. Finally, the paper situates these dynamics within broader questions of nation-building in Asia’s multi-ethnic societies, which faced significant challenges of ethnic conflict and political instability during the post-independence period. As the Cold War thawed in the latter half of the 20th century, increasing international mobility gave rise to intercultural theatrical exchanges, marking a shift towards new artistic dialogues. This paper serves as a foundation for exploring how politics and theatre in Asia continue to evolve in response to historical and contemporary forces.