I Love You I Love You: Aesthetics of love in a culturally diverse youth theatre ensemble

ABSTRACT Although love is rarely addressed in applied theatre and drama scholarship, it is nevertheless often present in participatory theatre practice. The Traction Youth Theatre Ensemble was based in a culturally diverse and vibrant satellite city south of Brisbane, Australia. While I was evaluating Traction’s potential to promote social cohesion, I found that feelings and expressions of love informed and formed the aesthetics of the ensemble process, its ritualized daily practices, and its performances. I argue that love deserves our scholarly attention if we are to continue pursuing ideals of social justice in intercultural participatory youth theatre practice and research.