Shakespeare and East Asia

Shakespeare and East Asia identifies four themes that distinguish post-1950s East Asian interpretations of Shakespeare from works in other parts of the world. The book examines formalistic innovations in sound and spectacle in the films and productions of Japanese directors Akira Kurosawa and Yukio Ninagawa; uses of Shakespeare for remedial functions in Sinophone, Taiwanese, and Hong Kong films and productions; conflicting reception of South Korean films and touring productions to London and Edinburgh; and multilingualism in cinema and theatre of the diaspora in Singapore and the UK. The book is structured around modes in which one might encounter Asian-themed performances of Shakespeare. Each chapter offers an approach to reading particular works.