Alan C. Dessen Boeken

Focusing on the staging of Shakespeare's plays, the book delves into what original audiences experienced, how we interpret that today, and the implications of these insights. It analyzes stage directions from around 600 plays performed before 1642, highlighting often-overlooked onstage effects and imagery. By examining terminology and theatrical vocabulary shared among Shakespeare and his contemporaries, the author challenges conventional interpretations and assumptions surrounding the reading, editing, and staging of these classic works.

Alan Dessen explores the complexities of directors altering Shakespeare's original texts, highlighting both the advantages and disadvantages of such adaptations. The analysis delves into how these changes can impact the integrity of the plays while also considering the creative possibilities they offer. Dessen's work provides insight into the balance between fidelity to the source material and the innovative interpretations that can emerge from rescripting.

Alan Dessert explores around four hundred manuscripts and plays to uncover original staging conventions from Shakespeare's era. He reveals how Elizabethan audiences understood theatrical shorthand, emphasizing its significance for modern interpreters, including critics, teachers, and performers. The book delves into stage directions, lighting, and metaphor.