The variety of Her Infinite Variety: A praxis-led examination of a new historicist/cultural materialist construct

Merchant, M.ORCID: 0000-0003-0923-1561 (2012) The variety of Her Infinite Variety: A praxis-led examination of a new historicist/cultural materialist construct. IM: Interactive Media, 8 .

Abstract

Her Infinite Variety was a theatrical production staged in 2009 as part of a praxis-led investigation into the impact and influence women had on the performance of Shakespeare during the Restoration. The production was positioned within the theoretical notion that, through the adaptations of Shakespeare’s works, it was possible to determine the Restoration writers’ attempts to create a discourse of femininity. While an analysis of the Restoration texts afforded some insights into this discourse, as did a textual comparison between each ‘original’ play and its adaptation, these were limited in nature. There were assumptions made prior to the production period of Her Infinite Variety, based on detailed readings of the Restoration adaptations, yet the rehearsals and public performances of the script provided more insights than the text alone could possibly have offered. It is these insights that this paper seeks to investigate and to show that, through a praxis-led investigation, it is evident that the Restoration stage was irrevocably altered by the feminine presence.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	Creative Media, Arts and Design
Publisher:	National Academy of Screen and Sound
Copyright:	© IM/NASS 2012
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/50119

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