Region, Religion and Patronage Lancastrian Shakespeare

This groundbreaking book uses the possibility that Shakespeare began his theatrical career in Lancashire to open up a range of new contexts for reading the plays, and introduces readers to the non-metropolitan theater spaces which formed a vital part of early modern dramatic activity. Essays give a detailed picture of the contexts in which the apprentice dramatist would have worked, providing new insights into regional performance, touring theatre, the patronage of the Earls of Derby, and the purpose-built theater at Prescot.

Richard Dutton is Professor of English Literature Alison Gail Findlay is Senior Lecturer in English Literature and Richard Wilson is Professor of Renaissance Literature in the Department of English, all at the University of Lancaster.