This subfield focuses on the practical aspects of Shakespearean theater, including acting, directing, design, and audience reception.
Shakespearean language: Understanding the nuances of Early Modern English used in Shakespeare's plays.
History and culture of Elizabethan England: Learning about the social, historical, cultural and political context in which Shakespeare wrote his plays.
Elizabethan Theater: Understanding the architecture and design of the Elizabethan stage and how it influenced Shakespeare's writing.
Shakespearean acting techniques: Exploring the performance techniques used by actors to perform Shakespeare's plays.
Stagecraft: Learning how to design and construct the sets, props, and costumes for Shakespearean theater.
Performance history: Studying the history of Shakespearean performance and how his plays have been adapted and performed over time.
Music and dance: Understanding the role of music and dance in Elizabethan theater and exploring their place in Shakespeare's works.
Textual analysis: Conducting a close reading of Shakespeare's plays to understand the themes, motifs, and characters.
Genre and style: Understanding the genres and styles in which Shakespeare wrote, including comedy, tragedy, and history.
Shakespeare and politics: Exploring the political themes in Shakespeare's writing, such as power, monarchy, and rebellion.
Shakespeare and gender: Analyzing the portrayals of gender in Shakespeare's plays and how they reflect the social norms of Elizabethan England.
Shakespeare and race: Examining the representation of race in Shakespeare's plays and understanding the role of race in Elizabethan England.
Shakespeare and religion: Exploring the religious themes in Shakespeare's plays and their relationship to the religious climate of Elizabethan England.
Performance theory: Understanding different theories of performance and how they can be applied to Shakespearean theater.
Shakespearean criticism: Reading and analyzing critical responses to Shakespeare's plays to understand their reception and interpretation over time.
Traditional/Shakespearean Theater: This is the most common form of Shakespearean theater and involves performances of the original text as it was written by Shakespeare. The plays are performed using traditional staging and costuming.
Modern/Shakespearean Theater: This form of theater takes a contemporary approach to Shakespearean plays. The staging, set design, and costumes may vary greatly from traditional Shakespearean theater.
Shakespearean Festivals: These festivals are typically held annually in various locations worldwide to celebrate Shakespeare's life and work. They may include performances of his plays, workshops, and other related events.
Adaptations: Many contemporary playwrights adapt Shakespearean texts to suit modern audiences. These adaptations may include changes in language, setting, or characters.
Site-specific performances: Site-specific performances involve performing a Shakespearean play in a non-traditional setting, such as an abandoned factory or a historical site.
One-person shows: These performances involve a single actor performing all of the characters in a Shakespearean play.
Shakespearean music and dance: Some theater companies or groups may perform traditional music or dance pieces, based on Shakespearean times or themes.
Shakespearean burlesque: This form of performance parodies and satirizes Shakespearean plays and characters.
Shakespearean film and television adaptations: Many Shakespearean plays have been adapted to film and television, often with significant changes to the original text.
Interactive theater: Interactive or immersive theater involves audience participation in the action of the play, often blurring the lines between performer and audience.