Performing Restoration Shakespeare

Performing Restoration Shakespeare explores the performative and musical aspects of Restoration Shakespeare (1660-1714) by engaging theatre historians, musicologists, literary critics, and practitioners. It advocates for an alternative approach to performance practices that emphasizes contextualizing past performances and transforming them for new audiences. The volume aims to bridge disciplines and provide scholars and practitioners with methods for studying and reviving past performances, including Shakespearean ones.

Format: Hardback
Length: 292 pages
Publication date: 26 January 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Performing Restoration Shakespeare delves into the rich performative and musical aspects of Restoration Shakespeare (1660-1714), drawing upon the expertise of theatre historians, musicologists, literary critics, and, most importantly, theatre and music practitioners. This comprehensive volume not only advances methodological debates in theatre studies and musicology but also advocates for an alternative approach to performance practices aimed at reviving original styles or conventions. Instead, it adopts a dialectical process that contextualizes past performances within their historical and aesthetic contexts, allowing for a transformative reinterpretation of these performances for contemporary audiences.

By employing these methodologies, the volume invites scholars from diverse disciplines to approach Restoration Shakespeare on its own terms, challenging preconceived notions that it debased Shakespeare's precursor texts. Moreover, it equips scholars and practitioners in theatre and music with innovative and much-needed methods for studying and reviving past performances, encompassing not just Shakespearean ones.

The book's chapters are organized into three sections, each exploring different aspects of Restoration Shakespeare's performance. The first section focuses on the historical and cultural contexts that shaped Restoration Shakespeare, examining the political, social, and artistic developments of the period. It explores the influence of Restoration comedy, the emergence of the theatre as a popular entertainment, and the development of new musical styles and instruments.

The second section delves into the theatrical practices of Restoration Shakespeare, exploring the techniques and styles employed by actors, directors, and designers. It examines the use of improvisation, the incorporation of music and dance into performances, and the development of new acting styles and genres. The third section explores the musical aspects of Restoration Shakespeare, examining the composition, performance, and reception of music in the plays. It explores the use of opera, ballad, and other musical forms, the development of new musical notation and scoring systems, and the influence of music on the dramatic and emotional aspects of the plays.

Throughout the volume, the authors draw upon a wide range of primary sources, including plays, music, theatre histories, and critical essays, to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of Restoration Shakespeare's performance. They also engage with the work of other scholars and practitioners in the field, fostering a dialogue that contributes to the ongoing development of scholarship in theatre and music studies.

In conclusion, Performing Restoration Shakespeare is a groundbreaking contribution to the study of Restoration Shakespeare and its performative and musical aspects. By advocating the expertise of theatre historians, musicologists.

Weight: 512g
Dimension: 236 x 158 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009241205