Why Play Shakespeare?
Why Play Shakespeare?

Artistic and Societal Functions of Contemporary Shakespeare Performances in Three European Cities

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents partial results of an international audience research carried out by STEP, Project on European Theatre Systems, an international research group on theatre sociology. The audience structures, demographics, theatre-going motivations of the spectators visiting four Shakespeare performances in three European cities are contrasted with the averages of theatre visitors in these cities. Then, the paper tries to contrast the theatrical experiences of the spectators of these Shakespeare performances from Debrecen, Newcastle and Groningen using the TEAM, Theatre Events Analysis Model. The fundamental question is whether the contemporary experiences of Shakespeare are similar or different in these cities and how they relate to the play and the mise-en-scėne.

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