Representations of Marxist thought in contemporary theatrical performance experiences

The world has witnessed an intellectual and aesthetic shift that produced diverse philosophical and artistic movements. Within this context, Marxism emerged as a human-centered framework concerned with interpreting social phenomena through analysis of material and moral conditions, economic activities, and human needs. Theater, as a cultural practice, became a medium for translating political ideas and generating change by creating expressive images of political issues in artistic form.

The present research addresses the question: How is Marxist thought represented in contemporary theatrical performance? The importance of the study lies in its contribution to incorporating Marxist perspectives into contemporary theatrical visions, offering insights to scholars and practitioners of theater. The research aims to identify the representations of Marxist thought in contemporary Iraqi performance, with temporal limits set in 2019 and spatial limits in Baghdad.

The study is structured into four chapters. The theoretical framework addresses Marxism in modern thought and the political dimensions of acting. The applied study analyzes the play The Asylum using a descriptive-analytical approach. The findings show that the performance embodies a duality of imagination and reason, presenting the asylum as both a theatrical space and a symbolic parliament. Through satire, role transformation, and gestural performance, the play incites audiences to reflect on political conditions and inspires critical engagement with social and political transformation.