Published July 3, 2025 | Version v1
Peer review Open

'Taking the car engine apart and show[ing] all the bits': Adapting Shakespeare for the contemporary British puppet stage

Authors/Creators

  • 1. ROR icon Université de Montpellier Paul-Valéry

Description

How does one interpret Shakespeare, in the puppetry medium in which the physical being, and not the famous ‘words, words, words’, is meant to be the primary draw? Contemporary British puppet companies, however, have shown a tendency to rethink and question the physical essence of performing Shakespeare. Through a study of shows and workshops by Blind Summit (London) and Forced Entertainment (Sheffield), this article explores how object theatre and bunraku puppets can offer fresh interpretations of Shakespeare's works.
 

Abstract (French)

Comment interpréter Shakespeare sur une scène de théâtre de marionnettes, où l'être physique, et non les célèbres citations (‘words, words, words’), occupe une place centrale? Les compagnies de théâtre de marionnettes britanniques contemporaines ont toutefois tendance à repenser et remettre en question la dimension physique de la mise en scène des pièces de Shakespeare. À travers une étude des spectacles et des ateliers théâtraux créés par Blind Summit (Londres) et Forced Entertainment (Sheffield), cet article explore comment le théâtre d’objet et les marionnettes de type bunraku peuvent offrir des interprétations nouvelles des œuvres de Shakespeare.

Files

decaix-2025-taking-the-car-engine-apart-and-show-ing-all-the-bits-adapting-shakespeare-for-the-contemporary-british.pdf

Files (302.9 kB)

Additional details

Funding

European Commission
PuppetPlays - Reappraising Western European Repertoires for Puppet and Marionette Theatres 835193

Dates

Available
2025-07-03
First published online