Shakespeare and Commedia dellArte: Play by Play

Shakespeare and Commedia dellArte examines the ongoing influence of commedia dellarte on Shakespeares plays.

Exploring the influence of commedia dellarte improvisation, sight gags, and wordplay on the development of Shakespeares plays, Artemis Preeshl blends historical research with extensive practical experience to demonstrate how these techniques might be applied when producing some of Shakespeares best-known works today. Each chapter focuses on a specific play, from A Midsummer Nights Dream to The Winters Tale, drawing out elements of commedia dellarte style in the playscripts and in contemporary performance.

Including contemporary directors notes and interviews with actors and audience members alongside Elizabethan reviews, criticism, and commentary, Shakespeare and Commedia dellArte presents an invaluable resource for scholars and students of Renaissance theatre.