political theatre
Posturing for cameras
Political theatre is action taken primarily for symbolic or public relations value rather than practical effect.
Politicians engage in political theatre when they hold hearings, propose legislation, or stage protests they know will fail—but which signal positions to constituents or generate media coverage: The impeachment vote was pure political theatre.
The term is usually dismissive, implying performance over substance.
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- televised debatesPublic arguments shown live
- town hallLocal government headquarters
- photo opArranged publicity picture
- press conferenceOrganized media Q&A
sound bite · media circus · subversion · Brechtian · satire · sit-in · flag-waving · dog and pony show · allegory · civil disobedience · kabuki · die-in · demonstration · spin doctors · smoke and mirrors · walking back · stump speech · bully pulpit
- theatreBroadway, acting, stage, actor, actress
- Modern TheaterIbsen, Chekhov, Beckett, O'Neill, Miller
- political theatreagitprop, documentary drama, Bertolt Brecht, Brechtian, placards
- theaterplays, stage, play, onstage, acting
- British TheatreWest End, Macbeth, Globe, King Lear, pantomime
- Canadian Theatreplaywrights, NAC, fringe festivals, drama festivals
political, theatre, politic, politics, politician, politicize, politicization, politicized, politicizing