Fisher, Tony (2026) Essay: the law of the theatre. In: Spanish Verbatim Theatre: Putting Justice on Trial. Centre for Performance Research, Aberystwyth, pp. 165-185. ISBN 9781906499211

Abstract

This chapter examines the historical and philosophical entanglement between legal structures and theatrical performance. Fisher argues that the theater is not merely a subject of legal regulation (censorship or licensing) but is fundamentally constitutive of the concept of "the public."

He explores how the "law of the theatre" functions as a paradigmatic space where the tension between state authority and popular sovereignty is negotiated. By analyzing the shift from sovereign decree to democratic oversight, Fisher illustrates how the stage acts as a site of political subjectification, where the law is both represented and contested through the presence of the gathered audience.