IOWA CITY, IOWA: The University of Iowa has announced that the records of Theatre Without Borders (TWB) are now open for research purposes. TWB donated their records to the University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections and Archives in 2021.

“To have access to the work of Theatre Without Borders and to build relationships with their affiliated artists expands the world views of our students,” Department of Theatre Arts chair Mary Beth Easley said in a statement. The research opportunity will “empower members of our university body and our broader community to imagine new possibilities and to believe that their own stories are worth living and re-telling.”

The records contain scripts, administrative files, conference materials, and other documents produced from 1983 to 2020. Students enrolled in the Social Justice and Performing Arts Certificate program, which launched last fall through the Department of Theatre Arts, will have special access to the records. The department regularly hosts TWB artists for international artistic collaborations with students.

More information about the records and their content is available here.

Theatre Without Borders is a global grassroots digital community that connects individuals and institutions interested in international theatre and performance exchange. It was founded in 2003 and is a volunteer-run organization.

The University of Iowa Department of Theatre Arts is one of the oldest and most respected theatre programs in the country, offering both undergraduate and MFA degrees.

As part of the University of Iowa Libraries, Special Collections and Archives advances direct engagement in learning, research, and creative work by providing staff expertise and exceptional collections on the university campus and worldwide. They emphasize the artefactual nature of their materials but also provide digitized versions.