2016 Theses Master's

Theatre Security and Security Theatre

Bogacheva, Polina

This paper will examine the incidents in detail and attempt to propose solutions to address the current vulnerabilities of Broadway theatres. Chapter 1 will provide a brief overview of the current and emerging trends in domestic and international terrorism, discussing their relevance to the theme of this thesis. Chapter 2 will provide an in-depth look at the events at the Dubrovka theatre in October 2002, when a coordinated attack was executed by a host of Chechen extremists, taking hostage over 900 theatregoers and employees. Chapter 3 will discuss the November 2015 attack on Stade de France and the Bataclan Concert Hall carried out by ISIS forces. The fourth chapter will look into the possible effects of new security measures being implemented and what considerations may be halting their application on Broadway and in other regions around the world. The chapter will then go on to offer a range of measures either already in use in some theatres in the world, or about to be implemented, which would fill some of the holes in theatre security.