Introduction

This introduction establishes the timeframe within which the Australian adaptations of Shakespeare for children and Young Adults (YAs) became especially prolific. It identifies who the authors were and begins to bring shape to the nature of these adaptations. The introduction also draws attention to the major theoretical frameworks of the book, including Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital and its application in Shakespeare studies, such as Douglas Lanier's work on Shakespearean cultural capital. Importantly, the Australian adaptations are located within the broader field of Shakespeare adaptation scholarship and the field of children's and YA's literature research. Finally, this introduction explains the adoption of the term ‘adaptation’ by recognising the complex definitional history in scholarship.