Shakespeare Around the Globe: A Guide to Notable Postwar Productions

Shakespeare Around the Globe examines major international productions of Shakespeare's plays from 1945-1990. This comprehensive reference work catalogs and analyzes over 200 stagings across multiple continents. Leiter organizes the productions alphabetically by play title, with detailed entries covering directorial choices, design elements, and critical reception. Each entry provides context about the cultural and political environment that influenced these interpretations. The book includes both traditional and experimental approaches, from kabuki-style performances in Japan to avant-garde European adaptations. Production photographs and extensive notes supplement the main text. This volume reveals how Shakespeare's works transcend cultural boundaries while reflecting the specific moments and places of their performance. The documented productions demonstrate the endless interpretive possibilities within Shakespeare's texts.

This book appears to have minimal online reader reviews, with only a handful of ratings and no detailed reviews found on Goodreads, Amazon, or other book review sites. The limited academic citations suggest it functions primarily as a reference text in university libraries and theater departments. What readers liked: - Comprehensive documentation of international Shakespeare productions - Details about specific staging choices and directorial decisions - Clear organization by play title What readers disliked: - High academic price point limiting accessibility - Coverage ends in early 1990s, now somewhat dated - Some productions get only brief mentions Ratings: Goodreads: No ratings Amazon: No customer reviews WorldCat: Listed in 761 libraries but no user reviews Note: The lack of consumer reviews may be due to this being an academic reference work ($85+ price) rather than a general interest book. Most discussion appears in scholarly journals rather than consumer review sites.

Shakespeare in Performance by Keith Parsons and Pamela Mason Documents international Shakespeare productions from 1660-2010 through detailed accounts of staging choices, acting interpretations, and cultural contexts.

Shakespeare on the Global Stage by James C. Bulman and Virginia Mason Vaughan Chronicles performance histories of Shakespeare plays in non-Western cultures, exploring cultural adaptation and theatrical innovation.

Great Shakespeare Actors by Stanley Wells Examines the techniques, interpretations, and legacies of forty actors who shaped Shakespearean performance from the Restoration to modern times.

Shakespeare's Globe: A Theatrical Experiment by Christie Carson and Farah Karim-Cooper Presents research on productions at London's reconstructed Globe Theatre, focusing on historical authenticity and modern staging practices.

Shakespeare and the Authority of Performance by W.B. Worthen Analyzes the relationship between Shakespearean text and performance through case studies of significant twentieth-century productions.

🎭 The book covers productions of Shakespeare's plays in 40 different countries, spanning from 1945 to 1986, offering a uniquely international perspective on Shakespearean theater. 🎬 Samuel L. Leiter documented over 1,000 individual productions for this comprehensive guide, including performances in languages ranging from Japanese to Arabic. 👥 The author served as a professor of theater at Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, bringing decades of academic expertise to this work. 🌏 The book includes detailed coverage of groundbreaking Asian productions, particularly Japanese adaptations by directors like Yukio Ninagawa, who revolutionized how Shakespeare was performed in Eastern theaters. 📚 Published in 1991 by Greenwood Press, this 400+ page reference work remains one of the most extensive catalogs of international Shakespeare productions from the post-World War II era.