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When Life Gives You Risk, Make Risk Theatre
Creators, Innovators, and Theatremakers:
DEFY THE SMALLNESS OF THE STAGE
WITH THE GREATNESS OF YOUR DARING
Wong’s first book upended tragic literary theory by arguing that risk is the dramatic fulcrum of the action. It also launched an international playwriting competition (risktheatre.com). His second book expands on how chance is a powerful and misunderstood force that directs the action, both on and off the stage.
Inside, you will find three risk theatre tragedies by acclaimed playwrights: In Bloom (Gabriel Jason Dean), The Value (Nicholas Dunn), and Children of Combs and Watch Chains (Emily McClain). From the poppy fields of Afghanistan to the motel rooms and doctors’ offices lining interstate expressways, these plays — by simulating risk — will show you how theatre is a dress rehearsal for life.
Six risk theatre essays round out this volume. In a dazzling display from Aeschylus to Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, and Arthur Miller, Wong reinterprets theatre through chance and probability theory. After risk theatre, you will never look at literature in the same way.
TOMORROW, WHOEVER SAYS DRAMA WILL SAY RISK
DEFY THE SMALLNESS OF THE STAGE
WITH THE GREATNESS OF YOUR DARING
Wong’s first book upended tragic literary theory by arguing that risk is the dramatic fulcrum of the action. It also launched an international playwriting competition (risktheatre.com). His second book expands on how chance is a powerful and misunderstood force that directs the action, both on and off the stage.
Inside, you will find three risk theatre tragedies by acclaimed playwrights: In Bloom (Gabriel Jason Dean), The Value (Nicholas Dunn), and Children of Combs and Watch Chains (Emily McClain). From the poppy fields of Afghanistan to the motel rooms and doctors’ offices lining interstate expressways, these plays — by simulating risk — will show you how theatre is a dress rehearsal for life.
Six risk theatre essays round out this volume. In a dazzling display from Aeschylus to Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, and Arthur Miller, Wong reinterprets theatre through chance and probability theory. After risk theatre, you will never look at literature in the same way.
TOMORROW, WHOEVER SAYS DRAMA WILL SAY RISK
412 pages, Paperback
Published June 7, 2022
1305 people want to read
About the author
Edwin Wong
2 books29 followersEdwin Wong has been dubbed “an Aristotle for the 21st century” (David Konstan, NYU) and "independent and provocative" (Robert C. Evans, AUM) for exploring the intersection between risk and theatre. He has published two books (The Risk Theatre Model of Tragedy / When Life Gives You Risk, Make Risk Theatre) and over a dozen essays on this topic. In 2022, he was one of three international academics to receive the Ben Jonson Discoveries Award for his work on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In 2018, he founded the Risk Theatre Modern Tragedy Playwriting Competition, the world's largest competition for the writing of tragedy (risktheatre.com). Wong has talked at venues from the Kennedy Center and the University of Coimbra to conferences hosted by the National New Play Network, Canadian Association of Theatre Research, Society of Classical Studies, and Classical Association of the Middle West and South. He was educated at Brown University and is on Twitter @TheoryOfTragedy. He lives in Victoria, Canada and blogs at melpomeneswork.com.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 5, 2022
When books forward sent me Edwin Wong’s new book I was a little nervous that it would be too complicated for me but this book is one of the most accessible theatre anthologies I’ve ever read.
Inside are three plays and six essays, all which he does an incredible job at giving context within the play and outside the world of the play. This book makes me so proud to work in the theatre industry because it shows issues from different perspectives that made me rethink the entertainment that I previously consumed and now I actively seek out plays like the ones in this book.
What I love most about this book is that because it is a collection, I was able to pick it up and put it down whenever I needed. I already recommended it to my college friends and I will continue to recommend it to anyone interested in diving deeper into theatre.
Inside are three plays and six essays, all which he does an incredible job at giving context within the play and outside the world of the play. This book makes me so proud to work in the theatre industry because it shows issues from different perspectives that made me rethink the entertainment that I previously consumed and now I actively seek out plays like the ones in this book.
What I love most about this book is that because it is a collection, I was able to pick it up and put it down whenever I needed. I already recommended it to my college friends and I will continue to recommend it to anyone interested in diving deeper into theatre.
February 11, 2022
An absolute must-read for professionals and experts in the theater industry. Wong's book will engage actors and readers alike in the idea behind risk — how pertinent to the time we're living in!
July 3, 2022
My interest in Edwin's writing comes from the perspective of literary criticism. I find it fascinating that he has found a viable new understanding of tragedy that legitimately alters our appreciation of the artform beyond the ideas of Aristotle and Hegel.
I am also deeply drawn to his ideas about risk, fragility and how these relate to ideas of contingency (i.e. the lack of certainty in events) and agency/self-determination. So my connection to this book is not really from the angle of drama, and I think other non-drama readers will have something to gain from reading Edwin's book. The essays provide the theory; the plays provide the praxis.
Lastly, I am inspired by his approach to publication, his intellectual success despite his situation on the periphery of academia, and his annual competition.
Bravo, Edwin.
I am also deeply drawn to his ideas about risk, fragility and how these relate to ideas of contingency (i.e. the lack of certainty in events) and agency/self-determination. So my connection to this book is not really from the angle of drama, and I think other non-drama readers will have something to gain from reading Edwin's book. The essays provide the theory; the plays provide the praxis.
Lastly, I am inspired by his approach to publication, his intellectual success despite his situation on the periphery of academia, and his annual competition.
Bravo, Edwin.
April 30, 2022
Elaborating on his model of tragedy outlined in his previous volume, Edwin Wong has put together a collection of electrifying contemporary plays and thought-provoking essays to illustrate how risk motivates us to aim high as the great tragic heroes do, and how unforeseen strokes of chance can lay us low. Being a playwright myself, this blueprint has already proved to be indispensable to the development of my craft. I would highly recommend this anthology to any and all writers and storytellers out there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2022
As a theatre-lover myself, I find it fascinating to learn about a new concept that helps me understand why I’m so drawn to the medium. I love the combination of plays and essays that help hammer home the author's ideas surrounding risk and uncertainty and how those direct action both on and off the stage. And I can guarantee you will never look at literature — or theatre — in the same way again.
July 11, 2022
Following up on, “The Risk Theatre Model of Tragedy: Gambling, Drama, and the Unexpected,” theater expert Edwin Wong presents, “When Life Gives You Risk, Make Risk Theatre: Three Tragedies and Six Essays.” Having had my interest piqued in the first work, I looked forward to seeing what Wong had in store for readers in this current composition. I was not disappointed.
Wong goes into great detail to educate readers about risk theatre. Information presented on theatre and the scientific method particularly interested me. The in-depth discussions that follow are accessible to people who are at all levels of interest in theatre. As someone who is not an expert in this area, I found myself readily able to follow along.
My attention increased when I read the three risk theatre plays that he choose to present. While the plays covered completely different topics, they all were perfect representations of risk theatre. The physical and emotional reactions I felt while reading let me know this. I have to admit that I was not ready to be finished with the reading of the plays when Wong moved on to present six essays about risk theatre.
Not having a choice, I moved into the essays, and once again found myself intrigued by the well-written discourses. As with “The Risk Theatre Model of Tragedy,” I enjoyed the topics presented and found myself wanting to further explore the plays that were being discussed, such as Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons,” and Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.” While I had read these in college, I want to go back and read them again while incorporating the knowledge I gained while reading this composition. I also have to say that I love how Wong’s mind works! For example, he manages to tie the COVID-19 pandemic into a discussion about Black Swans in ancient theatre and our present times. This helped me to gain a better understanding of their use in literature.
“When Life Gives You Risk, Make Risk Theatre: Three Tragedies and Six Essays,” is not only a must read for people who enjoy risk theatre types of plays, but it should also be included as required reading in college level literature courses. Students will really enjoy being able to use this work while they are learning about these plays. I wish I had access to it while I was in college. Being able to look at the risk theater model of tragedy with this level of knowledge would have instilled a greater passion for me to continue exploring more of risk theatre. This is highly recommended reading!
Wong goes into great detail to educate readers about risk theatre. Information presented on theatre and the scientific method particularly interested me. The in-depth discussions that follow are accessible to people who are at all levels of interest in theatre. As someone who is not an expert in this area, I found myself readily able to follow along.
My attention increased when I read the three risk theatre plays that he choose to present. While the plays covered completely different topics, they all were perfect representations of risk theatre. The physical and emotional reactions I felt while reading let me know this. I have to admit that I was not ready to be finished with the reading of the plays when Wong moved on to present six essays about risk theatre.
Not having a choice, I moved into the essays, and once again found myself intrigued by the well-written discourses. As with “The Risk Theatre Model of Tragedy,” I enjoyed the topics presented and found myself wanting to further explore the plays that were being discussed, such as Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons,” and Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.” While I had read these in college, I want to go back and read them again while incorporating the knowledge I gained while reading this composition. I also have to say that I love how Wong’s mind works! For example, he manages to tie the COVID-19 pandemic into a discussion about Black Swans in ancient theatre and our present times. This helped me to gain a better understanding of their use in literature.
“When Life Gives You Risk, Make Risk Theatre: Three Tragedies and Six Essays,” is not only a must read for people who enjoy risk theatre types of plays, but it should also be included as required reading in college level literature courses. Students will really enjoy being able to use this work while they are learning about these plays. I wish I had access to it while I was in college. Being able to look at the risk theater model of tragedy with this level of knowledge would have instilled a greater passion for me to continue exploring more of risk theatre. This is highly recommended reading!
October 26, 2023
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: When Life Gives You Risk, Make Risk Theatre: Three Tragedies and Six Essays
Author: Edwin Wong
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘subject knowledge’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘clarity of message’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“An interesting and thought provoking look at literature along with a number of compelling plays. I very much enjoyed this book.” Male reader, aged 54
“I must say, A for originality. I never thought I’d enjoy a book on risk theatre! Anyway, a thoroughly enjoyable read. I would recommend it to students of drama; I think they’d find it stimulating.” Male reader, aged 38
“A little theory, a little drama, you can’t go wrong! I felt the author had a full grasp of this subject and put over his thoughts on it in a compelling and accessible way.” Female Reader, aged 66
“Interesting look at risk in drama. I liked the author’s writing style; easy to follow yet direct.” Female reader, aged 49
To Sum It Up:
‘A fascinating insight into risk theatre along with three wonderfully compelling plays. A SILVER MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: When Life Gives You Risk, Make Risk Theatre: Three Tragedies and Six Essays
Author: Edwin Wong
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘subject knowledge’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘clarity of message’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“An interesting and thought provoking look at literature along with a number of compelling plays. I very much enjoyed this book.” Male reader, aged 54
“I must say, A for originality. I never thought I’d enjoy a book on risk theatre! Anyway, a thoroughly enjoyable read. I would recommend it to students of drama; I think they’d find it stimulating.” Male reader, aged 38
“A little theory, a little drama, you can’t go wrong! I felt the author had a full grasp of this subject and put over his thoughts on it in a compelling and accessible way.” Female Reader, aged 66
“Interesting look at risk in drama. I liked the author’s writing style; easy to follow yet direct.” Female reader, aged 49
To Sum It Up:
‘A fascinating insight into risk theatre along with three wonderfully compelling plays. A SILVER MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
May 3, 2023
Not since Nietzsche has anyone thought so deeply about why tragedy engages us. Many thinkers have suggested we're thrilled by seeing greatness laid to waste. Mr Wong's theory is that the thrill is more about seeing characters risking everything, gambling with their fate so to speak, on an unpredictable future. This book includes 3 plays and discussions of how they observe the risk theory of tragedy. Highly recommended for playwrights and theatregoers alike.
January 4, 2023
For theater nerds and novices alike. A nice anthology for those interested but still rather accessible for those less experienced with theater.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews