This unit covers Shakespeare's plays in their various categories, as well as plays by the most outstanding of his contemporaries. Each work is studied in its theatrical, political and philosophical contexts, and in many seminars individual scenes in historically important productions will be watched on video (eg the lead up to the murder of Duncan in Macbeth as directed by Polanski, Kurosawa and the RSC). Shakespeare's varying reception across the centuries will be considered, and some attention will be given to transformations of Shakespeare into other media (eg into grand opera: Verdi, Othello, on film). -- Course Website
Instructor: Peter Groves
