The Arden Research Handbook Of Shakespeare And Contemporary Performance

The Arden Research Handbook Of Shakespeare And Contemporary Performance is a comprehensive guide that explores the relationship between Shakespearean works and contemporary performance practices. With its critical analysis and insightful commentary, this handbook offers a valuable resource for scholars, students, and theater enthusiasts alike.

Shakespearean plays have stood the test of time and continue to be performed and interpreted by countless actors, directors, and theater companies around the world. The Arden Research Handbook Of Shakespeare And Contemporary Performance delves deep into the rich history and enduring influence of Shakespeare's works in modern theater.

Exploring the Connection

The handbook provides an extensive examination of how contemporary performance practices have shaped and reimagined Shakespearean plays. It covers a wide range of topics including adaptation, gender representation, race, class, and audience reception. Each chapter offers in-depth analysis and discusses various productions that have pushed the boundaries of traditional Shakespearean interpretation.

The Arden Research Handbook of Shakespeare and Contemporary Performance (The Arden Shakespeare Handbooks)

by Susan Elkin(Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1891 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	417 pages

FREE

One of the key themes explored in this handbook is the intersectionality of performance. It addresses how contemporary directors and actors have embraced diverse casting choices, opening up new possibilities for interpreting Shakespeare's characters. From gender-blind casting to racially diverse performances, these productions challenge the traditional norms associated with Shakespearean theater and offer fresh perspectives.

Case Studies and Critical Analysis

The Arden Research Handbook Of Shakespeare And Contemporary Performance presents a range of case studies that delve into specific productions and their unique approaches to Shakespeare's works. These case studies provide a detailed analysis of the choices made by directors, actors, and designers, showing how they have redefined iconic characters and themes in innovative ways.

For example, the handbook explores recent productions such as "Macbeth" set in a post-apocalyptic world, disturbingly reflecting the contemporary anxieties about power and corruption. It also discusses the acclaimed all-female production of "Hamlet" that challenges traditional notions of gender in the play. These case studies offer insight into the creative process behind groundbreaking interpretations.

Understanding the Contemporary Context

Not only does the handbook analyze individual productions, but it also provides a broader understanding of the contemporary context in which these performances take place. It examines how social, political, and cultural factors influence interpretations of Shakespeare's works and shape the audience's experience.

Whether it's analyzing how performances of "Othello" have evolved over time to address issues of racism or exploring how productions of "The Tempest" engage with themes of colonialism and post-colonial identity, this handbook highlights the relevance of Shakespeare's plays within the modern world.

The Arden Research Handbook Of Shakespeare And Contemporary Performance is an essential resource for anyone interested in the intersection of Shakespeare and contemporary theater. Through its comprehensive analysis and thought-provoking case studies, it offers valuable insights into the ongoing relevance and adaptability of Shakespeare's works.

The Arden Research Handbook of Shakespeare and Contemporary Performance (The Arden Shakespeare Handbooks)

by Susan Elkin(Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1891 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	417 pages

FREE

The Arden Research Handbook of Shakespeare and Contemporary Performance is a wide-ranging, authoritative guide to research on Shakespeare and performance studies by an international team of leading scholars. It contains chapters on the key methods and questions surrounding the performance event, the audience, and the archive – the primary sources on which performance studies draws. It identifies the recurring trends and fruitful lines of inquiry that are generating the most urgent work in the field, but also contextualises these within the histories and methods on which researchers build.

A central section of research-focused essays offers case studies of present areas of enquiry, from new approaches to space, bodies and language to work on the technologies of remediation and original practices, from consideration of fandoms and the cultural capital invested in Shakespeare and his contemporaries to political and ethical interventions in performance practice. A distinctive feature of the volume is a curated section focusing on practitioners, in which leading directors, writers, actors, producers, and other theatre professionals comment on Shakespeare in performance and what they see as the key areas, challenges and provocations for researchers to explore.

In addition, the Handbook contains various sections that provide non-specialists with practical help: an A-Z of key terms and concepts, a guide to research methods and problems, a chronology of major publications and events, an to resources for study of the field, and a substantial annotated bibliography.

The Arden Research Handbook of Shakespeare and Contemporary Performance is a reference work aimed at advanced undergraduate and graduate students as well as scholars and libraries, a guide to beginning or developing research in the field, and an essential companion for all those interested in Shakespeare and performance.