It is commonly assumed that avant-garde theatre and popular performance are incongruent. The former is engaged in artistic experimentation and social criticism, while the later is more lightheaded, entertaining and harmless. In fact, much of the rhetoric and aesthetics of 20^th century avant-garde performance draw quite specifically from the styles and modes of expression of popular performance, such as the music hall and the cabaret. This course will shed light on the affinities between popular and avant-garde performance and analyze their significance.