Shakespeare in Practice – serie

When actors perform Shakespeare, what do they do with their bodies? How do they display to the spectator what is hidden in the imagination?This is a history of Shakespearean performance as seen through the actor's body. Tunstall draws upon social, cognitive and moral psychology to reveal how performers from Sarah Siddons to Ian McKellen have used the language of gesture to reflect the minds of their characters and shape the reactions of their audiences. This book is rich in examples, including detailed analysis of recent performances and interviews with key figures from the worlds of both acting and gesture studies. Truly interdisciplinary, this provocative and original contribution will appeal to anyone interested in Shakespeare, theatre history, psychology or body language.

When actors perform Shakespeare, what do they do with their bodies? How do they display to the spectator what is hidden in the imagination?This is a history of Shakespearean performance as seen through the actor's body. Tunstall draws upon social, cognitive and moral psychology to reveal how performers from Sarah Siddons to Ian McKellen have used the language of gesture to reflect the minds of their characters and shape the reactions of their audiences. This book is rich in examples, including detailed analysis of recent performances and interviews with key figures from the worlds of both acting and gesture studies. Truly interdisciplinary, this provocative and original contribution will appeal to anyone interested in Shakespeare, theatre history, psychology or body language.

What do audiences do as they watch a Shakespearean play? What makes them respond in the ways that they do? This book examines a wide range of theatrical productions to explore the practice of being a modern Shakespearean audience. It surveys some of the most influential ideas about spectatorship in contemporary performance studies, and analyses the strategies employed both in the texts themselves and by modern theatre practitioners to position audiences in particular ways.

What do audiences do as they watch a Shakespearean play? What makes them respond in the ways that they do? This book examines a wide range of theatrical productions to explore the practice of being a modern Shakespearean audience. It surveys some of the most influential ideas about spectatorship in contemporary performance studies, and analyses the strategies employed both in the texts themselves and by modern theatre practitioners to position audiences in particular ways.

What makes a Shakespeare production political? Can Shakespeare''s plays ever be truly radical?Revealing the unspoken politics of Shakespeare''s plays on stage, Andrew Hartley examines their nature, agenda, limits and potential. In considering key theoretical issues, analysing a wide range of productions, and engaging in a collaborative debate with Professor Ayanna Thompson, Hartley highlights a more consciously political approach to making theatre out of Shakespeare''s scripts and to experiencing it as an audience. Dynamic and provocative, this book is a crucial text for students and theatre practitioners alike.

What makes a Shakespeare production political? Can Shakespeare's plays ever be truly radical?Revealing the unspoken politics of Shakespeare's plays on stage, Andrew Hartley examines their nature, agenda, limits and potential. In considering key theoretical issues, analysing a wide range of productions, and engaging in a collaborative debate with Professor Ayanna Thompson, Hartley highlights a more consciously political approach to making theatre out of Shakespeare's scripts – and to experiencing it as an audience. Dynamic and provocative, this book is a crucial text for students and theatre practitioners alike.

When directors approach Shakespeare, is the play always the thing – or might something else sometimes be the thing?How can directing produce fresh contexts for Shakespeare’s work? Part of the innovative series Shakespeare in Practice this book introduces students to current practices of directing Shakespeare. Ewert explores how the conventions and creative tropes of today’s theatre make meaning in Shakespeare production now. The 'In Theory' section starts with an analysis of theatre production and directing more generally before looking at the specific Shakespeare context. The 'In Practice' section offers a wonderful range of production examples that showcase the wide breadth of approaches to directing Shakespeare today, from the 'conventional' to the most experimental. Providing a useful general overview of directing Shakespeare on stage today, this is an ideal text for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying 'Shakespeare in Performance' in Literature, Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies departments. This book will also inspire students studying directing as part of a theatre programme, and scholars, performers and lovers of Shakespeare everywhere.

When directors approach Shakespeare, is the play always the thing – or might something else sometimes be the thing?How can directing produce fresh contexts for Shakespeare’s work? Part of the innovative series Shakespeare in Practice this book introduces students to current practices of directing Shakespeare. Ewert explores how the conventions and creative tropes of today’s theatre make meaning in Shakespeare production now. The 'In Theory' section starts with an analysis of theatre production and directing more generally before looking at the specific Shakespeare context. The 'In Practice' section offers a wonderful range of production examples that showcase the wide breadth of approaches to directing Shakespeare today, from the 'conventional' to the most experimental. Providing a useful general overview of directing Shakespeare on stage today, this is an ideal text for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying 'Shakespeare in Performance' in Literature, Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies departments. This book will also inspire students studying directing as part of a theatre programme, and scholars, performers and lovers of Shakespeare everywhere.

When directors approach Shakespeare, is the play always the thing or might something else sometimes be the thing? How can directing produce fresh contexts for Shakespeare''s work? Part of the innovative series Shakespeare in Practice this book introduces students to current practices of directing Shakespeare. Ewert explores how the conventions and creative tropes of today''s theatre make meaning in Shakespeare production now. The ''In Theory'' section starts with an analysis of theatre production and directing more generally before looking at the specific Shakespeare context. The ''In Practice'' section offers a wonderful range of production examples that showcase the wide breadth of approaches to directing Shakespeare today, from the ''conventional'' to the most experimental. Providing a useful general overview of directing Shakespeare on stage today, this is an ideal text for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying ''Shakespeare in Performance'' in Literature, Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies departments. This book will also inspire students studying directing as part of a theatre programme, and scholars, performers and lovers of Shakespeare everywhere.

Cross-gender performance was an integral part of Shakespearean theatre: from boys portraying his female characters, to those characters disguising themselves as men within the story. This book examines contemporary trends in staging cross-gender performances of Shakespeare in the UK and USA. Terri Power surveys the field of gender in performance through an intersectional feminist and queer theoretical lens. In depth discussions of key productions reveal processes adapted by companies for their performances. The book also looks at how contemporary performance responds to new cultural politics of gender and creates a critical language for understanding that within Shakespeare.This book features:- First-hand interviews with professional artists- Case studies of individual performances- A practical workshop section with innovative exercises

Cross-gender performance was an integral part of Shakespearean theatre: from boys portraying his female characters, to those characters disguising themselves as men within the story. This book examines contemporary trends in staging cross-gender performances of Shakespeare in the UK and USA. Terri Power surveys the field of gender in performance through an intersectional feminist and queer theoretical lens. In depth discussions of key productions reveal processes adapted by companies for their performances. The book also looks at how contemporary performance responds to new cultural politics of gender and creates a critical language for understanding that within Shakespeare.This book features:- First-hand interviews with professional artists- Case studies of individual performances- A practical workshop section with innovative exercises

Cross-gender performance was an integral part of Shakespearean theatre: from boys portraying his female characters, to those characters disguising themselves as men within the story. This book examines contemporary trends in staging cross-gender performances of Shakespeare in the UK and USA. Terri Power surveys the field of gender in performance through an intersectional feminist and queer theoretical lens. In depth discussions of key productions reveal processes adapted by companies for their performances. The book also looks at how contemporary performance responds to new cultural politics of gender and creates a critical language for understanding that within Shakespeare. This book features:- First-hand interviews with professional artists- Case studies of individual performances- A practical workshop section with innovative exercises

When actors perform Shakespeare, what do they do with their bodies? How do they display to the spectator what is hidden in the imagination?This is a history of Shakespearean performance as seen through the actor''s body. Tunstall draws upon social, cognitive and moral psychology to reveal how performers from Sarah Siddons to Ian McKellen have used the language of gesture to reflect the minds of their characters and shape the reactions of their audiences. This book is rich in examples, including detailed analysis of recent performances and interviews with key figures from the worlds of both acting and gesture studies. Truly interdisciplinary, this provocative and original contribution will appeal to anyone interested in Shakespeare, theatre history, psychology or body language.

What do audiences do as they watch a Shakespearean play? What makes them respond in the ways that they do? This book examines a wide range of theatrical productions to explore the practice of being a modern Shakespearean audience. It surveys some of the most influential ideas about spectatorship in contemporary performance studies, and analyses the strategies employed both in the texts themselves and by modern theatre practitioners to position audiences in particular ways.

When directors approach Shakespeare, is the play always the thing – or might something else sometimes be the thing? How can directing produce fresh contexts for Shakespeare''s work? Part of the innovative series Shakespeare in Practice this book introduces students to current practices of directing Shakespeare. Ewert explores how the conventions and creative tropes of today''s theatre make meaning in Shakespeare production now. The ''In Theory'' section starts with an analysis of theatre production and directing more generally before looking at the specific Shakespeare context. The ''In Practice'' section offers a wonderful range of production examples that showcase the wide breadth of approaches to directing Shakespeare today, from the ''conventional'' to the most experimental. Providing a useful general overview of directing Shakespeare on stage today, this is an ideal text for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying ''Shakespeare in Performance'' in Literature, Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies departments. This book will also inspire students studying directing as part of a theatre programme, and scholars, performers and lovers of Shakespeare everywhere.

Cross-gender performance was an integral part of Shakespearean theatre: from boys portraying his female characters, to those characters disguising themselves as men within the story. This book examines contemporary trends in staging cross-gender performances of Shakespeare in the UK and USA. Terri Power surveys the field of gender in performance through an intersectional feminist and queer theoretical lens. In depth discussions of key productions reveal processes adapted by companies for their performances. The book also looks at how contemporary performance responds to new cultural politics of gender and creates a critical language for understanding that within Shakespeare. This book features:- First-hand interviews with professional artists- Case studies of individual performances- A practical workshop section with innovative exercises

What makes a Shakespeare production political? Can Shakespeare''s plays ever be truly radical?Revealing the unspoken politics of Shakespeare''s plays on stage, Andrew Hartley examines their nature, agenda, limits and potential. In considering key theoretical issues, analysing a wide range of productions, and engaging in a collaborative debate with Professor Ayanna Thompson, Hartley highlights a more consciously political approach to making theatre out of Shakespeare''s scripts – and to experiencing it as an audience. Dynamic and provocative, this book is a crucial text for students and theatre practitioners alike.

What is the role of costume in Shakespeare production? Shakespeare and Costume in Practice argues that costume design choices are central not only to the creation of period setting and the actor’s work on character, but to the cultural, political, and psychological meanings that the theatre makes of Shakespeare. The book explores questions about what the first Hamlet looked like in his mourning cloak; how costumes for a Shakespeare comedy can reflect or critique the collective nostalgias a culture has for its past; how costume and casting work together to ask new questions about Shakespeare and race. Using production case studies of Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Tempest, the book demonstrates that costume design can be a site of experimentation, playfulness, and transgression in the theatre – and that it can provoke audiences to think again about what power, race, and gender look like on the Shakespearean stage.

What is the role of costume in Shakespeare production? Shakespeare and Costume in Practice argues that costume design choices are central not only to the creation of period setting and the actor’s work on character, but to the cultural, political, and psychological meanings that the theatre makes of Shakespeare. The book explores questions about what the first Hamlet looked like in his mourning cloak; how costumes for a Shakespeare comedy can reflect or critique the collective nostalgias a culture has for its past; how costume and casting work together to ask new questions about Shakespeare and race. Using production case studies of Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Tempest, the book demonstrates that costume design can be a site of experimentation, playfulness, and transgression in the theatre – and that it can provoke audiences to think again about what power, race, and gender look like on the Shakespearean stage.

Shakespeare and Digital Performance in Practice explores the impact of digital technologies on the theatrical performance of Shakespeare in the twenty-first century, both in terms of widening cultural access and developing new forms of artistry. Through close analysis of dozens of productions, both high-profile and lesser known, it examines the rise of live broadcasting and recording in the theatre, the growing use of live video feeds and dynamic projections on the mainstream stage, and experiments in born-digital theatre-making, including social media, virtual reality, and video-conferencing adaptations. In doing so, it argues that technologically adventurous performances of Shakespeare allow performers and audiences to test what they believe theatre to be, as well as to reflect on what it means to be present—with a work of art, with others, with oneself—in an increasingly online world.

Shakespeare and Digital Performance in Practice explores the impact of digital technologies on the theatrical performance of Shakespeare in the twenty-first century, both in terms of widening cultural access and developing new forms of artistry. Through close analysis of dozens of productions, both high-profile and lesser known, it examines the rise of live broadcasting and recording in the theatre, the growing use of live video feeds and dynamic projections on the mainstream stage, and experiments in born-digital theatre-making, including social media, virtual reality, and video-conferencing adaptations. In doing so, it argues that technologically adventurous performances of Shakespeare allow performers and audiences to test what they believe theatre to be, as well as to reflect on what it means to be present—with a work of art, with others, with oneself—in an increasingly online world.

This book explores how productions of Shakespearean plays create meaning in specific communities, with special attention to issues of access, adaptation, and activism. Instead of focusing on large professional companies, it analyzes performances put on by community theatres and grassroots companies, and in applied drama projects. It looks at Shakespearean productions created by marginalized populations in Greater London, Harlem, and Los Angeles, a Hamlet staged in the remote Faroe Islands, and eco-theatre made in California’s Yosemite National Park. The book investigates why different communities perform Shakespeare, and what challenges, opportunities, and triumphs accompany the processes of theatrical production for both the artists and the communities in which they are embedded.