'Theatre in Asia is a bafflingly complex and diverse art, reflecting the enormous diversity of the continent itself. It is difficult to speak of an “Asian” theatre as a unified or even vaguely homogenous form, and the articles in this issue speak to that diversity and complexity. Covering theatrical forms mainly from India and Southeast Asia, these articles cover a variety of subjects from traditional texts and performances to contemporary, hybrid forms, to the influence of the global economy.' (Editorial introduction)
Contents indexed selectively.
'The thirteenth century Sufi text, The Conference of the Birds, describes a journey undertaken by a group of birds to find their king. It is an allegorical presentation of the mystical quest. The teachings are extensively illustrated by parables. An Australian Conference of the Birds, written in 1995 by Australian poet Anne Fairbairn (1928-), is a tribute to Attar’s poem, using Australian birds within an Australian bush setting. The poem also includes a quest for the King of the Birds. There are some important differences in the spirituality of the two poems. The Australian version places a lesser emphasis on the place of ethical behaviour in the life of the aspirant. There is little concern for the stages of growth in the development of mystical awareness. Successful completion of the quest itself is an individual physical achievement.' (Introduction)
