Exchanges and innovation: creative collaborations with Shakespeare by British and Irish dramatists, 1970-2010

Box, Carolyn (2011). Exchanges and innovation: creative collaborations with Shakespeare by British and Irish dramatists, 1970-2010. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

My thesis is an exploration of the collaborations between British and Irish dramatists and Shakespeare over the past forty years. Within its bounds, there exists an extensive collection of innovative works produced in spaces from the community halls of the fringe to the main stages of the national theatres. The dramatists in question write from diverse perspectives. They may inflect elements in the work to counter stereotypes, employ intertextual images to subvert naturalistic scenes, or, alternatively, deploy the dark images inherent in the language in modern tragedies. It is helpful to think about this relationship in terms of a series of exchanges: contemporary dramatists influence Shakespearean production, offering fresh readings of the plays; and they value Shakespeare’s poetry and ability to address history in an enduring form. Although there are parallels with the present, denying Shakespearean resolutions can reflect present-day complexities. New plays are viewed as ‘collaborations’ rather than ‘appropriations’ or ‘adaptations’, so as to place the focus on the coming together of ideas from more than one source. It is not so much about what contemporary dramatists have done to Shakespeare, but how and why they have chosen to combine their ideas with those inherent in his works.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):