Shakespeare and Audience in Practice - Paperback

by Stephen Purcell (Author)

What do audiences do as they watch a Shakespearean play? What makes them respond in the ways that they do? This book examines a wide range of theatrical productions to explore the practice of being a modern Shakespearean audience. It surveys some of the most influential ideas about spectatorship in contemporary performance studies, and analyses the strategies employed both in the texts themselves and by modern theatre practitioners to position audiences in particular ways.

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What do audiences do as they watch a Shakespeare play? What makes them respond in the ways that they do?

Exploring the practice of being a modern Shakespearean audience, Stephen Purcell examines a wide range of theatrical productions, surveys some of the most influential ideas about spectatorship in contemporary performance studies, and analyses how both modern theatre practitioners and the play texts themselves position audiences in particular ways. Innovative and insightful, this book includes detailed case studies of two modern productions, a collaborative debate section, and suggestions for practical exercises and further reading.

Author Biography

Stephen Purcell is Assistant Professor of English at the University of Warwick, UK. His research focuses on Shakespeare in contemporary performance and popular culture. His publications include Popular Shakespeare (2009) and The White Devil (2012) in The Shakespeare Handbooks series.
Stephen Purcell is Assistant Professor of English at the University of Warwick, UK. His research focuses on Shakespeare in contemporary performance and popular culture. His publications include Popular Shakespeare (2009) and The White Devil (2012) in The Shakespeare Handbooks series.