Exploring new ways of creating Shakespeare performance for the 21st century, with reference to cultural opportunities and challenges in a globally interconnected world and application and adaptation of verse theory in practice.

This thesis gives an overview of a number of book publications and two filmed international theatre performances submitted as part of this PhD by publication. They are all linked by two major themes: (a) the application to professional theatre production and practice of verse and language theory where a Shakespeare text is deconstructed, analysed and then reconstructed as a vehicle for an actor and director; and (b) intercultural/interwoven theatre productions involving Shakespeare production across and between cultures. The bridge between them is the original use of translation and adaptation. In order to achieve these two areas of work as a director/adaptor, I have developed original rehearsal practice processes through uniquely created exercises designed to support work with spoken Shakespearian verse and prose; developed a new framework of intercultural related practice I term parallel ‘cultural production’; developed and adapted contemporary translation theory into theatre practice; created new Shakespeare performances appropriate for the contemporary stage, and developed methodology for collaboration across cultures with scholars and practitioners from many cultural roots.