Shakespeare and Community Performance

This book explores how Shakespearean plays create meaning in specific communities, focusing on community theatres, grassroots companies, and applied drama projects. It looks at productions created by marginalized populations in Greater London, Harlem, Los Angeles, the Faroe Islands, and Yosemite National Park, investigating why they perform Shakespeare and the challenges and triumphs of theatrical production.

Format: Hardback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 09 August 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This captivating book delves into the intricate tapestry of how Shakespearean plays generate profound meaning within specific communities, with a keen focus on issues of accessibility, adaptation, and activism. Instead of limiting its scope to large professional companies, it takes a deep dive into performances staged by community theatres, grassroots companies, and applied drama projects. It explores the rich diversity of Shakespearean productions created by marginalized populations in Greater London, Harlem, and Los Angeles, examining a captivating Hamlet staged in the remote Faroe Islands and the awe-inspiring eco-theatre crafted in the majestic Yosemite National Park. The book embarks on an insightful exploration, seeking to unravel the compelling reasons behind communities' embrace of Shakespearean performances. It uncovers the myriad challenges, opportunities, and triumphs that accompany the theatrical production processes for both the artists and the communities they are intertwined with. Through vivid narratives and insightful analysis, this book offers a profound testament to the enduring power of Shakespearean plays to inspire, transform, and unite communities across time and space.

Weight: 514g
Dimension: 152 x 218 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031332661
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023