| Synopsis: |
The four hundredth anniversary of Shakespeare's death in 2016 has seen a wealth of programming, projecting his cultural legacy, entertainment value, and economic impact at sites all across the world. The essays assembled for Volume 16 of The Shakespearean International Yearbook explore the various ways Shakespeare has been invoked at a selection of those sites. An international group of scholars illustrate his global complexity and diversity, exploring the reproduction of his plays, their intersection and transformation in places both well-known and unfamiliar. Our Special Section, Shakespeare on Site, edited by Susan Bennett, examines how cultural performances of many kinds invoke Shakespeare to contribute to shaping the experience and meaning of place - whether local, regional, or national - and how these different practices elaborate our notions of what has come to be called, both in popular and scholarly discourses, "global Shakespeare." Additional essays extend this exploration to further sites, and survey a selection of recent publications in Shakespeare studies. |