The Show Must Go On

In places with the most trauma, some of the most valuable commodities are hope and wonder. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that theater hangs on tenaciously in dangerous locales. A project run by the University of Manchester is acknowledging this by researching why performers continue practicing their craft in the world's war zones.

The project, called In Place of War: Theatre, Performance and War Research and Practice Network, is an international network that will connect theater performers, technicians and academics to discuss why theater is such a powerful balm to places torn apart by violence.

Over the course of three years, the University's Martin Harris Center will host meetings of actors and other theater people from places such as Kosovo, Gaza and Sudan. The project team is also creating an online database to collect and categorize documents, articles, films, photographs and recordings.

Here's hoping that the performances in these countries aren't all tragedies.

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