Each year, in recognition of the National Day of Mourning/Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, we examine how British colonialism is irrevocably intertwined with Shakespeare through close reading of Jyotsna Singh's Shakespeare and Postcolonial Theory. In this week's episode, we will explore how Shakespeare’s plays can be interpreted and performed in a postcolonial society.

This practice involves shifting our perceptions of Shakespeare’s plays as timeless and universal to timely and particular, especially in the context of performance. We will discuss a few postcolonial readings and performances from both Western and Global Shakespeare scholars and practitioners. We will also explore how these specific productions prompt and answer the questions of: “Why this play?” and “Why now?” Who is producing this play? Who is on the stage playing these characters? What interpretive choices are being made? Where is this play being performed? These are all questions we invite all to ask as we apply this framework to our own scholarship and theatre practice.

Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.

Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.

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Works referenced:

Singh, Jyotsna G. Shakespeare and Postcolonial Theory, The Arden Shakespeare, Bloomsbury Publishing, London, 2020.