What are the subjects that playwrights are interested in today? Which dramatic styles have emerged since the turn of the century? In this course we will study plays that have been written and staged over the past two decades and that exemplify contemporary dilemmas, issues, and innovative dramatic styles. The themes we will examine include: immigration, oppression and war in the twenty-first century, local/global identity, gendered identity and the twenty-first century family, inter-culturalism, humanity and technology, economic structures in the age of globalization, and the tensions between religion and secularism. We will discuss the relations between local, global and world drama and explore the possibilities of translating and transferring the plays from the context in which they were written onto the Israeli stage. In addition, we will think together about building a theatre repertory in Israel today. During the course we will watch excerpts of the plays and performances discussed.