Rethinking Theatrical Documents in Shakespeare's England

This book is open access and available on www.bloomsburycollections.com. It is funded by Knowledge Unlatched and explores the documents that produced a play in Shakespeares England, showing how the playhouse generated paratexts. It provides new ways of understanding plays critically, interpretively, editorially, practically, and textually.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 03 June 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This book, available on www.bloomsburycollections.com, is a groundbreaking resource that offers open access to a wealth of theatrical documents from Shakespeare's England. Funded by Knowledge Unlatched, it brings together fifteen esteemed scholars who meticulously analyze and theorize these diverse documents, ranging from drafts and casting lists to playbooks and commonplace snippets. Through their collective intervention, the book reimagines both theatre history and book history, providing innovative approaches to critically evaluate, interpret, edit, perform, and study plays in new and insightful ways.

The book explores the intricate web of paratexts generated by the playhouses in Shakespeare's England, revealing the frantic efforts to create a rich tapestry of interrelated materials. It delves into a diverse range of documents, some well-known and others previously unknown, spanning from the pre-play stages (drafts, casting lists, actor parts) to the play's performance (prologues, epilogues, title boards) and even after the play's closure (playbooks, commonplace snippets, ballads). What is particularly fascinating is how these "before," "during," and "after" phases intertwine in intricate ways, shedding light on the dynamic processes of theatrical production.

By employing a collective approach, the book challenges traditional notions of theatre history and book history, offering fresh perspectives on plays. It encourages readers to engage with plays critically, interpretively, editorially, practically, and textually, employing a multidisciplinary lens that encompasses literary, historical, cultural, and performative aspects. Through its comprehensive analysis and theoretical frameworks, Rethinking Theatrical Documents provides valuable insights into the creative processes of Shakespearean drama, illuminating the ways in which plays were shaped, adapted, and disseminated in their historical context.

This resource is a treasure trove for scholars, students, theatre enthusiasts, and anyone interested in exploring the rich tapestry of theatrical documents from Shakespeare's England. Its open access format ensures that it reaches a wide audience, fostering dialogue and collaboration among researchers and enthusiasts alike. By rethinking the documents that shaped these plays, this book offers new avenues for understanding and appreciating the enduring legacy of Shakespearean theatre.

Weight: 336g
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350248854