The Shakespeare Legacy

The plays of Elizabethan and Jacobean England, and Shakespeare's work in particular, are usually presented in a purely literary context; the material context is relatively neglected. Yet the setting, staging and costuming of Shakespeare's plays are not only fascinating subjects in their own right; they also illuminate aspects both of the playtext and of contemporary social and cultural history. The Archeology of Shakespeare sets out to right this imbalance in theatre studies by systematically investigating the material evidence that bears upon the theatre and theatrical presentations of Shakespeare's day. The astounding discovery in 1989 of the foundations of the Rose theatre, followed later in the year by the uncovering of the site of Shakespeare's own Globe theatre, have transformed our knowledge of the subject. Dr. Wilson assesses the results of these investigations in relation to what is known of the other theatres of London, and supplements her findings by the study of contemporary art forms, especially tomb sculpture, an under-used body of material that throws considerable light on the interiors and staging practices of Elizabethan playhouses. Chapters on the social and cultural background to the Elizabethan theatre, as well as on Shakespeare himself, provide the context to the fascinating detail of the 'archeology'. Nearly ninety illustrations of contemporary paintings, sculptures and buildings complement the text.