Edwin Wong believes that it’s time to reboot the ancient art of tragedy. He developed his theory of tragedy called risk theatre to align tragedy with modern concepts of chance and uncertainty. The result is a tragic stage where every dramatic act is a gambling act and risk runs riot. His first book, a call to action called: The Risk Theatre Model of Tragedy: Gambling, Drama, and the Unexpected came out in 2019. His second book, When Life Gives You Risk, Make Risk Theatre: Three Tragedies and Six Essays, came out in 2022. It is a collaborative work featuring finalists and winners from the competition.
Wong was educated at Brown University where he concentrated in ancient theatre. He blogs on theatre at melpomeneswork.com. You can also find him on Twitter @TheoryOfTragedy.
Wong has taken risk theatre on the road, presenting his vision of theatre to enthusiastic audiences at the Kennedy Center, the National New Play Network (NNPN), the Canadian Association for Theatre Research (CATR), the Society of Classical Studies (SCS), the Classical Association of the Middle West and South (CAMWS), Working Title Playwrights, Marionet Teatre (Portugal), as well as many universities and theatres. He would love to speak at your next theatre event.
YouTube link to Edwin speaking at the National New Play Network (NNPN) panel Theater & Crisis
