International News

Summary

As has been noted above, no attempt is made by Shakespeare Survey to provide either a complete bibliography of recent writings on Shakespeare or a catalogue of his plays in production. In the following pages selection has been made—chiefly from the reports of our correspondents—with the object of presenting a general picture of the Shakespearian scene and of stressing what appear to be the most interesting and noteworthy trends.

Audiences in Great Britain have had an opportunity of seeing numerous Shakespearian dramas presented on the boards, and it is encouraging to observe how widely spread these performances have been—thanks largely to the Arts Council's sponsorship of local repertory and touring companies. Not only have many among the better-known plays thus been brought before audiences outside of London: these audiences have on occasion had the privilege of witnessing performances of works rarely given on the stage. Although it is impossible to review all of these productions, some indication of their scope is given elsewhere in this volume. The one fact that England has had four presentations of King Lear may be taken as a symbol of recent activities in this direction.

If the theatrical record here is encouraging, a dash of disappointment must be felt when Shakespeare's fortunes in other parts of the English-speaking world are brought under review. Perhaps no surprise need be experienced when we note the rarity of his appearance on the stage in the rest of the Commonwealth, since we fully appreciate with what peculiar difficulties theatrical endeavour in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa has to contend. Although interest in Shakespeare is strong in all these countries, the paucity of professional companies offers but few chances for more than occasional performances of the plays. Indeed, the only production of this kind that has been reported by our correspondents is that of Hamlet—and that was an Afrikaans version by L. I. Coertze, given at Johannesburg by the African Consolidated Theatres in May 1947.