guerrilla theater
1
7.7
- noun
- /ɡəˈrɪlə ˈθiːətər/
- US
:
teatro guerrillero
- She often uses guerrilla theater as a way to engage the public in discussions about social justice.
Examples
-
The activists organized a guerrilla theater performance in the park to raise awareness about climate change.
-
I'm talking about guerrilla theater.
Fiction book (1999) -
Among her various trades, she is a guerrilla-theater artist.
Academic text (2001) -
During the street fair, a group performed guerrilla theater to highlight local poverty issues.
Synonyms
2
4.4
A live play performed outdoors to show social or political problems
1
3.1
A live show in a public place where people give money
How Political
Surface Forms
Morphology
The modifier 'guerrilla' conveys unconventional, surprise-tactic activity, so a learner who knows both words can infer that this is a nonstandard or surprise form of theatre. However, the full sense—spontaneous, politically motivated street performances designed to provoke discussion—is a metaphorical and pragmatic extension not fully predictable from the parts, so some specific aspects may remain unclear without exposure.
Etymology
Guerrilla theater combines guerrilla, which refers to fighters who use sudden surprise attacks, and theater, meaning a live performance. It describes short, unexpected shows in public that try to catch people off guard and draw attention to 'political' or 'social' issues, so the name explains the 'surprise' protest style.