Making Theatre: From Text to Performance

(Paperback)

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Description

The reality of a play is in its performance. "Making Theatre" focuses on the processes by which performance is realized, analyzing three major areas: "Words" and the interpretation of the text; "Vision", including scenery, costume and lighting; and "Music" which illustrates the importance of music in all stage action. The forms of theatre covered include straight drama, the musical and opera. Taking productions well-known on both sides of the Atlantic, Peter Mudford examines plays by Shakespeare, Chekhov, Pirandello, Beckett, Pinter, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller and David Mamet; musicals by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter and Stephen Sondheim; and operas by Verdi, Wagner and Berg. This account of what makes theatre important and how it works will be valuable to teachers and students of drama and performance, as well as all those interested in theatre as an art.

Reviews

"Peter Mudford's book is a unique discussion of the experience of performance. It can be read with pleasure, both as a study of the nature of theatre, and as an account of the author's own response to specific (and often classic) productions."--Leonee Ormond, University of London
"The spread and thrust of the account is extremely refreshing."--Katharine Worth, University of London

Author Bio

Peter Mudford is Professor of English and European Literature at London University.