A Sonic Sampling, a Nuancing of Space: Theoretical Insights and Elaborations on the Acoustic and Spatial ‘Turns’

This review critically engages with Susan Bennett’s Sound and Kim Solga’s Space—inaugural books in the authors’ co-edited series, Theory for Theatre Studies. It outlines key aspects of both books, evaluating their contribution to the fields of theatre and performance studies in terms of pedagogy and research. Sound and Space effectively foreground diverse theories specific to their topics. Working across disciplines and in relation to theatre and performance, both offer a number of case studies to elucidate theoretical approaches. As rigorous and foundational texts that illuminate discourses and practices around the ‘auditory turn’ and the ‘spatial turn,’ Sound and Space prompt readers to extend their thinking across theories, genres, disciplines, and time periods. Written accessibly for a wide readership—students, practitioners, researchers, teachers—these books inspire innovative thinking about sound and space in the theatre and in everyday life. Readers are directed to additional resources, including digital materials, encouraging further exploration and engagement with these topics.