Books in the Studies in Performance and Early Modern Drama series

Some characters in some medieval English mysteries wore masks. Why should this have been and what did it contribute to the plays and their performance? This study seeks to historicize and contextualize the moments and patters of mask-wearing in the Middle Ages.

Featuring chapters dealing with Shakespeare and performance culture in modernity, this collection intends to bring better understanding to Shakespeare's imaginative investment in the relationship between theatrical production and the emotional, intellectual and cultural effects of performance broadly defined in social terms.

Considering major works by Kyd, Shakespeare, Middleton and Webster among others, this book transforms understanding of early modern revenge tragedy. It shows revenge tragedy is not an anti-Catholic and Reformist genre, but one rooted in, and in dialogue with, traditional Catholic culture.

Explores the way in which the stories of the Caesars, and of the Julio-Claudians in particular, can be used to figure the stories of English rulers on the Renaissance stage. This title demonstrates how early modern English dramatists, using Roman modes of literary representation as cover, commented on the issues of the day.

Drawing upon the scholarship in Renaissance studies regarding notions of the body, political, physical and social, this study examines how the satiric tragedians of the English Renaissance employ the languages of sex - including sexual slander, titillation, insinuation and obscenity - in the service of satiric aggression.

Offers fresh interpretations of Shakespeare's works in the context of two major contemporary notions of collectivity: the crowd and rumour. This plays illustrates that rumour and crowd are mutually dependent; they also betray a fascination with the fact that crowd and rumour make individuality disappear.

Focuses on the implications of the archival research which has profoundly changed our view of the continuation of performances of Chester's civic biblical play cycle into the reign of Elizabeth I. This volume includes essays that focus on the performance of 1572 which took place despite the objections of the bishop of Chester.