Lockdown Shakespeare: New Evolutions in Performance and Adaptation

The nascent art form of broadcasting stage performances of Shakespeare (and theatre more widely) is ripe for analysis. In their introduction, editors Allred, Broadribb, and Sullivan are emphatic in preempting any misconceptions about the nature of the book: 'Let us be clear: this book, Lockdown...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Early Modern Literary Studies 2024, Vol.23 (2), p.1-5
Main Author: Murray, Jack
Format: Review
Language:English
Subjects:
Audiences
Case studies
COVID-19
Essays
Humor
Interviews
Pandemics
Theater
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The nascent art form of broadcasting stage performances of Shakespeare (and theatre more widely) is ripe for analysis. In their introduction, editors Allred, Broadribb, and Sullivan are emphatic in preempting any misconceptions about the nature of the book: 'Let us be clear: this book, Lockdown Shakespeare, is not a lament for lost theatre' (p. 3). Discussing his online production of Twelfth Night, Crystal claims the play to be 'a stunning blend of comedy and tragedy' (p. 138), perfectly suited for finding humour as a way to cope during a tragic period of human history. Cast member Lisa Hill-Corley's assertion here is one that is celebrated throughout the multiple interviews in this section of the book, again reinforcing the book's thesis that the Covid-19 pandemic heralded the birth of a new mode of performance and not simply a sticking plaster until corporeal performances could once again resume.
ISSN:1201-2459
1201-2459