New Sites For Shakespeare

<p>In the course of exploring the theatrical cultures of South and East Asia, eminent Shakespeareanist John Russell Brown developed some remarkable theories about the nature of performance, the state of Western 'Theatre' today, and the future potential of Shakespeare's plays.<br> In <em>New Sites for Shakespeare</em> he outlines his passionate belief in the power of theatre to reach mass audiences, based on his experiences of popular Asian performances. It is a personal polemic, but it is also a carefully argued and brilliantly persuasive study of the kind of theatrical experience Shakespeare's own contemporaries enjoyed.<br> This is a book which cannot be ignored by anyone who cares about the live performing arts today. Separate chapters consider staging, acting, improvisation, ceremonies and ritual, and an analysis of the experience of the audience is paramount throughout.</p> Introduction PART I Visiting 1 Open Stages: presence and occasion 2 Audiences: on stage and off stage 3 Ritual: action and meaning 4 Ceremony: behaviour and reception 5 Performance: imagination and involvement 6 Improvisation: freedom and collusion 7 Response: actors and audiences 8 Settings: actors and stages PART II Returning 9 Criticism: texts and study 10 Control: directors and companies 11 Scenography: theatres and design 12 Actors: training and performance, Forward prospect