The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare on Stage

Stanley Wells · Sarah Stanton

May 2002 · Cambridge University Press

About this ebook

This 2002 Companion is designed for readers interested in past and present productions of Shakespeare's plays, both in and beyond Britain. The first six chapters describe aspects of the British performing tradition in chronological sequence, from the early staging of Shakespeare's own time, through to the present day. Each relates Shakespearean developments to broader cultural concerns and adopts an individual approach and focus, on textual adaptation, acting, stages, scenery or theatre management. These are followed by three explorations of acting: tragic and comic actors and women performers of Shakespeare roles. A section on international performance includes chapters on interculturalism, on touring companies and on political theatre, with separate accounts of the performing traditions of North America, Asia and Africa. Over forty pictures illustrate peformers and productions of Shakespeare from around the world. An amalgamated list of items for further reading completes the book.

About the author

Stanley Wells is Emeritus Professor and Director of the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham. He is General Editor of the Oxford Shakespeare, editor of The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare Studies (1986), coeditor, with Margreta de Grazia, of The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare (2001), co-author of William Shakespeare: A Textual Companion (1987) and author of Shakespeare: A Dramatic Life (1995).

Sarah Stanton is Publishing Director and Senior Commissioning Editor at Cambridge University Press, in charge of the Shakespeare studies list. She has served as coeditor of Banham and Stanton, The Cambridge Paperback Guide to Theatre (Cambridge, 1996).