Theatre Systems Compared

This article is meant as a starting point in the process of researching how theatre systems influence the functioning of theatre. The notion “theatre system” is understood as the set of organisational relationships within and between the domains of production, distribution and reception of theatre. Because the hypothesis of the Project on European Theatre Systems (STEP) is that the differences in these organisational patterns at least partly determine the types of theatre offered to city populations and their use of the supply, the present article attempts to make a start with a comparison between the theatre systems in Aarhus (Denmark), Bern (Switzerland), Debrecen (Hungary), Groningen (The Netherlands), Maribor (Slovenia), Tartu (Estonia) and Tyneside (United Kingdom). One of the findings of this comparison is that the structures of financial support for theatre by the various authorities do not differ very strongly among the countries on the European continent. However, the so-called city theatres in Central and Eastern Europe seem to have a more dominant position than in the Western European countries. For smaller, independent theatre organisations this is the other way round. In addition, the position of Bern is remarkable, because of the exceptional number of venues and theatre performances in this city. In Debrecen and Maribor, cultural centres appear to play quite an important role in the theatre life of these cities.

Writing theatre history – The mainstream approach and alternatives

Main questions: 1. How to deal with the beginnings of theatre? 2. Do we have to consider a “second birth of theatre” in the Middle Ages? 3. What influences do media have on writing theatre histories?

Post-operative monitoring of free muscle transfers by Laser Doppler Imaging: A prospective study.

PURPOSE Despite different existing methods, monitoring of free muscle transfer is still challenging. In the current study we evaluated our clinical setting regarding monitoring of such tissues, using a recent microcirculation-imaging camera (EasyLDI) as an additional tool for detection of perfusion incompetency. PATIENTS AND METHODS This study was performed on seven patients with soft tissue defect, who underwent reconstruction with free gracilis muscle. Beside standard monitoring protocol (clinical assessment, temperature strips, and surface Doppler), hourly EasyLDI monitoring was performed for 48 hours. Thereby a baseline value (raised flap but connected to its vascular bundle) and an ischaemia perfusion value (completely resected flap) were measured at the same point. RESULTS The mean age of the patients, mean baseline value, ischaemia value perfusion were 48.00 ± 13.42 years, 49.31 ± 17.33 arbitrary perfusion units (APU), 9.87 ± 4.22 APU, respectively. The LDI measured values in six free muscle transfers were compatible with hourly standard monitoring protocol, and normalized LDI values significantly increased during time (P < 0.001, r = 0.412). One of the flaps required a return to theatre 17 hours after the operation, where an unsalvageable flap loss was detected. All normalized LDI values of this flap were under the ischaemia perfusion level and the trend was significantly descending during time (P < 0.001, r = -0.870). CONCLUSION Due to the capability of early detection of perfusion incompetency, LDI may be recommended as an additional post-operative monitoring device for free muscle flaps, for early detection of suspected failing flaps and for validation of other methods.