World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Volume 1: Europe [Hardcover]

Peter Nagy (Editor), Philippe Rouyer (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 1995 | ISBN-10: 0415059283 | ISBN-13: 978-0415059282 | Edition: 1

The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre:Europe covers theatre since World War II in forty-seven European nations, including the nations which re-emerged following the break-up of the former USSR, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. Each national article is divided into twelve sections - History, Structure of the National Theatre Community, Artistic Profile, Music Theatre, Theatre for Young Audiences, Puppet Theatre, Design, Theatre, Space and Architecture, Training, Criticism, Scholarship and Publishing and Further Reading - allowing the reader to use the book as a source for both area and subject studies.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This first volume of a projected six-volume set provides 47 lucid and highly informative comparative essays, each covering a specific nationality. Ranging from 3000 to 30,000 words, the essays each offer a historical overview, describe the structure of the national theater community, and profile artists (e.g., major playwrights, directors), as well as present specialty sections (e.g., puppet theater) and short bibliographies of secondary works. Although the essays themselves are uniformly fine, the overall structure of the set leaves something to be desired; for instance, Israel is listed in the Europe rather than the Arab World volume. In addition, this encyclopedia lacks the useful biographical material found in the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama (LJ 2/1/84), though it is certainly more comprehensive and more up to date. The inclusion of black-and-white production stills rarely seen in the United States is a bonus that designers and researchers will appreciate. A joint project of several organizations, including the International Association of Libraries and Museums of the Performing Arts, this set is essential for all theatrical collections.
Anthony J. Adam, Prairie View A&M Univ. Lib., Tex.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This projected 6-volume encyclopedia covering theatrical arts throughout the world since 1945 will focus on more than 150 countries. Its purpose is to present the nations' self-view through the eyes of theatrical scholars and artists writing within each country. TV and radio drama are not included. The editorial board includes international regional editors; for volume 1, covering 47 countries, they are from Budapest, Bordeaux, and Moscow. Future volumes will cover the Americas, Africa, the Arab World, and Asia and Oceana; the sixth volume will contain a comprehensive index and a world-theater bibliography.

The introductory essays for volume 1 include a general overview of theatrical activity in Europe, music and dance, theater for young audiences, and puppet theater. The main entries, arranged alphabetically from Albania to Yugoslavia, are structured alike in 12 sections. A brief section containing historical, sociopolitical, and geographic information is followed by a section on the structure of the national theater community, which includes professional theatrical groups, variety, opera and ballet, the circus, and puppet theater; an artistic profile, which includes companies, dramaturgy, directing, and production; design; space and architecture; training (including schools); criticism; scholarship and publishing; and a short bibliography. The latter tends to contain works in the national language. Within the essays, titles are also given in the national language, with English translations in parentheses. The work is structured so that one may read straight through each essay or do a cross-cultural study of one or more of the 12 aspects of each entry. The index serves as the access point for individual names, titles, and topics. For example, Waiting for Godot leads to articles on France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, Poland, Serbia-Montenegro, the U.K., and Yugoslavia. Black-and-white photos of theaters and productions are found in every chapter. Israel, because of its "cultural links with Europe in the modern period," is treated in this volume as part of the European mainstream. Articles on Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and the USSR give historical overviews; authors were recruited to write individual essays on the new republics.

The 5-volume McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama (2d ed., McGraw-Hill, 1984) continues to serve secondary-school students, undergraduates, and the general public as an excellent overview of theater topics throughout history. The World Encyclopedia, according to its editors, is designed to meet the needs of the "sophisticated professional from abroad," the nonnative researcher who wants to learn about recent theater activity in a country in the context of its sociopolitical culture. This set will be a refreshing journey into unfamiliar territory for researchers and a welcome addition to scholarly theater collections.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1064 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (January 20, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415059283
• ISBN-13: 978-0415059282
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.1 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,455,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)