셰익스피어극 현대공연의 문제점과 해결방안

Abstract

Woong-Jae ShinThis paper seeks to find solutions for the most serious problems concerning modern Shakespearean performances on the basis of recent Shakespearean productions in England: The Winter's Tale, The Tempest and Pericles at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre as well as Twelfth Night at Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST).The most serious problem with the modern Shakespearean production is, as in the Globe Theatre's Winter's Tale, to make the bard's play an old-fashioned 'heritage theater.' Such a production is superfluously faithful to the play's historical background in setting and costume; moreover, it neither searches the play for new meanings nor attempts any novel and effective means of theatrical representation. Another problem is exemplified by Twelfth Night at RST which rests content with the existing interpretations of the play, although it invents impressive theatrical devices as well as modernizes the play's setting. Still another problem is revealed by The Tempest at the Globe Theatre which demonstrates the three requirements―exploration of new meanings, appropriate modernization of the past, and exhibition of creative theatrical skills―but confuses the audience by failing to coordinate the three in harmony.Pericles at the Globe Theatre in 2005 gives solutions to all the three problems listed above. It widens the perspective of interpreting the play by exploring the play's subtext, highlights the modern relevance and significance of those meanings to the audience by modernizing the setting, and delivers those meanings impressively by using a variety of effective dramatic devices in characterization, acting, and staging. Through all these means, this production succeeds to serve the needs of the contemporary audience by making them actively participate in the play and benefit from it to the highest degree, which is the most important way of solving problems with modern Shakespearean performances.