Shakespeare A to Z | Shakespearean Theater: 18th Century
Many changes in Shakespearean theater occurred during the 1700s. The original texts of Shakespeare’s plays were gradually restored to the stage, displacing the adaptations that had held sway throughout the Restoration* period. Most 18th-century productions, however, focused not on the text but on the actors and the staging. The highly exaggerated performance style popular at the beginning of the century gradually gave way to a more natural and emotional approach. At the same time, sets and costumes grew more ornate and artificial. Productions became spectacular affairs, crowded with...
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