Staging Labor Renewal: An Application of the Theory of Interaction Rituals

Once thought to be the only genuinely revolutionary force, the labor movement is in retreat worldwide. By way of example, this article argues that by reawakening our human capacity for solidaristic relationships, theatrical plays are one means of revitalizing the labor movement. This article uses the theory of interaction rituals to analyze a dramatic production that follows in the tradition of the workers' theater movement. The play focuses on the little-known historical role of women in the 1941 to 1942 strike in Canada's gold fields. Audience responses to the after-performance survey reveal the play's positive ritual effects. This study fills a gap in the empirical literature on interaction rituals.