Narrative strategies in Shakespearean productions on twenty-first-century European stages

Abstract

This thesis is on the one hand part of the wider field of ‘European Shakespeare’ studies which have become more and more popular in recent years. On the other hand it attempts to propose a new way at researching ‘Shakespeare’ in such a context, thereby also trying to answer the ever persistent question of how much ‘Shakespeare’ is essential for a performance to be regarded as ‘Shakespearean’? There has been a constant striving for a more trans-national approach in this field –some successful, some futile– and therefore national borders have been disregarded in this research project. This thesis instead focuses on the different kinds of media or narrative strategies employed in theatre: each chapter is concerned with a change in narration. Special attention has been directed towards translations and adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays, on musical versions, on reworkings for children including a small excursion into puppet theatre, on theatrical productions of his poems, on otherness, such as a King Lear in sign language, and on selected productions from Shakespeare Festivals to try and raise awareness of the European Shakespeare Festival Network.