Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book exemplifies the challenges of coming to terms with the theatrical Shakespearean world. It examines those who have treated the playwright as a resource for reshaping existing worlds, thereby confirming William Shakespeare's usefulness in the service of nation-building projects. The book reveals the complex cultural forces that draw Shakespeare into very different transnational relationships. It describes how technological innovations and the singular circumstances of the Saxe-Meiningen company converged to make Shakespeare an important catalyst for the spread of directors' theatre across Europe. The book explores how Shakespeare has been incorporated into artistic practices through time and around the world. It emphasizes cross-disciplinary dialogues and describes ecocriticism as a relatively new academic field. The book reveals the complex cultural forces that draw Shakespeare into very different transnational relationships.