Authentic pretending: how theatrical is museum theatre?

The traditional and stereotypical image of the museum as a place of authority and truth, and the theatre as a place of insubordination and fiction, forms quite a contrast. It is the aim of this paper to explore the tensions that arise within the dual discipline of museum theatre. As performance in museums can often be a temporary novelty, the extent to which theatrical creativity is able to be exercised is questioned by examining the foundations of museum theatre, the concept of authenticity and the post-dramatic theatre movement. In drawing attention to issues which museum performers face, it is suggested that a greater range of theatrical techniques be employed in order to explore the boundaries of the practice as a learning tool and performance art.