The Head that Wears the Crown
John Adler explores the changing interpretations of Shakespeare’s history plays on stage - from Garrick to the new Globe.
Shakespeare was one of a small group of playwrights who created the genre of the history play as we know it. The chronicle play which was contemporaneous with early history plays simply served to string together a series of dramatic episodes from some period in the past, often with a crude didactic purpose. In evolving the history play, Shakespeare developed a vital perspective on his subject matter and elevated it into an experience of more profound individual, social and political significance.
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