An international arts organisation and network engaging with music, dance, theatre and visual art, Phakama creates adventurous, site-responsive performances with large groups of people from diverse backgrounds. With contributions from participants, artists, academics and cultural commentators from India, Ireland, South Africa, the UK and USA, this book features case studies, interviews and articles covering two decades of practice. At the heart of the book is a selection of carefully explained and beautifully illustrated exercises which will enable Phakama's methodology to be used by organisations and practitioners working with young people internationally.

Phakama is a Xhosa and Zulu word for stand up, arise, empower yourself. With a focus on collaborative, non-hierarchical performance making, Phakama invites cultural sharing and critical engagement with the world we live in.

As well as engaging with political and critical concerns about contemporary theatre and performance, the book offers unique approaches to devising theatre, applied and social theatre, intercultural performance practices and pedagogic models of collaboration and cultural leadership.

Lucy Richardson is Senior Lecturer in Performing Arts at London Metropolitan University and one of the early members of Phakama. Her research interest, which includes both traditional and performance research, is in 'creative processes and the politics of participation'. She established The Facility: Research Centre in Creative Practice at London Met to champion practice based research.

Fabio Santos is the former Artistic Director of Phakama and a contributing writer on a collaboratively written handbook of transitional arts practice, led by Lucy Neal.

Caoimhe McAvinchey is Senior Lecturer in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies at Queen Mary University London and has published research reports, academic articles and books within the field of applied and social theatre.