New Sites For Shakespeare: Theatre, the Audience, and Asia / Edition 1

by John Russell Brown

Overview

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.
In New Sites for Shakespeare 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.
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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415194501
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/10/1998
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Theatre writer and director, John Russell Brown was an Associate Director of the National Theatre, London for fifteen years and has taught at various universities in the UK and US. He is currently Consultant to the School of Drama at Middlesex University.

Table of Contents

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

Editorial Reviews

'John Russell Brown's new book is a must. Neatly written and jargon-free, Russell Brown's polemic is one of the best books about Shakespeare because it dares to ask a basic question: what's the point of drama? Even if you don't agree with his opinions about the reconstructed Globe Theatre, or think his views on today's touring companies are a bit outdated, his passion, energy and longing for excitement command attention. But beware: this book may encourage you to abandon your yearly outing to the theatre, and go abroad instead.' - The Independent

'a very personal voyage of discovery...fresh and uncluttered' - TLS, Nov 1999

'John Russell Brown has expanded the range and scope of Shakespeare studies, reinventing Shakespeare for himself.' - Louis Scheeder, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, USA

'An innovative, masterful and abundantly interesting volume, one which will certainly be in the vanguard of new Shakespeare directions.' - Mark Thornton Burnett, The Queen's University of Belfast

From the Publisher