Performance and Liminality in Early Modern Drama
Prologues in early modern theatre served as a transformative rite of passage for both audiences and actors, providing valuable insights into the theatrical possibilities of the time. This study explores their significance, revealing how these introductory speeches shaped perceptions of performance and the broader cultural context of the era.
Each volume of EVANS SHAKESPEARE is edited by a scholar, focusing on helping students understand Renaissance drama through contextualization and explanatory notes.
Focusing on the interplay between English Renaissance drama and the economic landscape of Elizabethan and Jacobean society, this study examines the status of playwrights like Shakespeare and the rise of commercial theatres. It highlights a materialist vision rooted in the uncertainties of London's expanding economy, exploring themes such as cuckoldry, stage props as commodities, and the commercial implications of the Troy narrative in Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida. The author proposes innovative interpretations that reconnect theatre and its performances to their material context.
Stage and Page in the Elizabethan Theatre
Exploring the dynamic interplay between acting and writing during the Elizabethan era, this book highlights how Shakespeare skillfully navigated these artistic demands. It delves into the techniques and strategies he employed to balance his roles as both playwright and actor, showcasing his innovative contributions to the theatrical landscape of his time.
Exploring innovative perspectives, this work enhances readers' understanding of Shakespeare's style and its broader implications for literary analysis. It encourages a fresh interpretation of texts, inviting deeper engagement with both Shakespeare's works and literature as a whole.