Performative Gender in Contemporary TheatreKnez, Nuša (Avtor) Toporišič, Tomaž (Mentor) Blake, Jason Frederick (Mentor) gender theoryperformative genderpostdramatic theatreSontagSemeničThe following thesis investigates the dynamics of how contemporary theatre portrays gender. It focuses on illuminating how theatre can function as a tool of undermining a dual perspective on gender and social reality. This is done by firstly highlighting some of the most influential gender theories from the second half of the 20th century (de Beauvoir, Bourdieu, Fausto-Sterling and Butler). Later, an overview of the postmodern conditions of being are presented, as means that crucially shaped the theatre of today. The final theoretical chapter focuses on Lehmann’s theory of the postdramatic theatre. The analytical part of the thesis then utilizes the theoretical framework as a means of conducting a qualitative historical analysis of the chosen postdramatic texts and their on-stage adaptations. They are, Susan Sontag’s Alice in Bed (1993) and Simona Semenič’s seven cooks, four soldiers and three sophias (2014), directed by Ivo van Hove and by Diego de Brea, respectively.[N. Knez]20212021-12-08 07:45:02Magistrsko delo/naloga133661UDK: 316.74:[792.9:82-2]VisID: 492529COBISS_ID: 88670723sl