Ritual studies and modern theatre

Research at the intersection of theater and religion does not have a widely developed research method. We propose to use the interdisciplinary method of ritual studies for research in this area on the example of theatrical productions by Romeo Castellucci and Boris Yukhananov. The article examines the background of Roy Rappoport’s ritual research and the development of Ronald Grimes’ ritual research method, as well as how the concept of ritualization is developing in such researchers as Catherine Bell and Paul Post. We illustrate the difference in the conceptualization of ritualization on the example of two theatrical works by modern experimental directors – the trilogy “The Divine Comedy” by Romeo Castellucci and “Pinocchio” by Boris Yukhananov. The article shows that ritual studies as a method of working with ritual allows us to look at modern theater as an object of religious studies interest, in which new forms of religiosity develop and live.

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