ABSTRACT
The history of Shakespeare on stage in England since the Restoration illuminates and imbricates the history of English theatre. By considering how Shakespeare has been performed in his own country since his own time, this chapter explores the Continental and, eventually, broadly international influences on Shakespearean performance and, in particular, the influence of increasing globalization. Throughout this history, a pronounced pride in Shakespeare’s originality, genius, and quintessential Englishness has vied with a strong interest in his universality and contemporary relevance, often resulting in friction between professedly authentic and determinedly innovative approaches to the performance of his plays.
