Studying Plays

Now in its 4th edition, this is an accessible and comprehensive introduction to the critical study of drama. Using familiar examples of classic and contemporary works such as Shakespeare's King Lear, Ibsen's A Doll's House and Timberlake Wertenbaker's Our Country's Good, the book explores the essential elements of play texts, from character, dialogue and plot to theatrical space. With more in depth guidance on how to study plays in and as performance, both live and in recordings available online, the 4th edition of Studying Plays now includes: · new examples throughout the book drawn from a range of 21st-century plays by established and emergent writers for diverse theatres and companies · new explorations of how plays structure and engage audience response · a complete new section on the analysis of theatre of witness and testimony; monodrama; and postdramatic texts. Title Page 2 Copyright Page 5 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 A note on texts 10 Chapter 1 Getting started 12 Reading the play 13 Stage directions 22 Chapter 2 Characters and persons 31 Expectations about character 31 Three aspects of dramatic character 32 Mapping characters 34 Developing the aspects of dramatic character 36 Character articulation 41 Further aspects of dramatic character 50 Character at work 52 Chapter 3 Dialogue 54 The workings of dialogue 54 Functions of dialogue 55 More functions of dialogue 61 The workings of conversation 69 Speech acts 77 The stylistics of theatrical prose and verse 85 Chapter 4 Plot and action 90 Plot, action and situation 90 Modelling action 94 Story, plot and narration 105 Character and scenes 114 Chapter 5 The actor’s body 122 Stage directions 122 Chapter 6 Spaces 142 Space and A Doll’s House 142 A systematic approach to space 150 Models and maps of theatrical space 179 Chapter 7 Dealing with some newer kinds of drama 183 Monodrama 184 Testimony and tribunal 189 ‘Post-dramatic’ theatre 193 Chapter 8 Culture and interpretation 202 Writers 203 Location 205 Performers 211 Audiences 218 Interpretation 228 Glossary 232 Bibliography 235 Primary texts 235 Reference 235 Secondary texts 240 Index 243 "Now in its fourth edition, this is an accessible and comprehensive introduction to the critical study of drama. Using familiar examples of classic and contemporary works such as Shakespeare's King Lear, Ibsen's A Doll's House and Timberlake Wertenbaker's Our Country's Good, the book explores the essential elements of play texts, from character, dialogue and plot to theatrical space. With more in depth guidance on how to study plays in and as performance, both live and in recordings available online, the fourth edition of Studying Plays now includes : · New examples throughout the book drawn from a range of 21st-century plays by established and emergent writers for diverse theatres and companies · New explorations of how plays structure and engage audience response ·A complete new section on the analysis of theatre of witness and testimony ; monodrama ; and postdramatic texts."--Page 4 de la couverture This text provides an introduction to play texts. Looking at key elements of drama and drawing on examples such as 'King Lear' and 'A Doll's House', the text discusses the theatrical quality of plays and sets drama in its historical context. Getting started -- Characters and persons -- Dialogue -- Plot and action -- The actor's body -- Spaces -- Dealing with some newer kinds of drama -- Culture and interpretation. Mick Wallis and Simon Shepherd. Includes bibliographical references and index.