Commedia Dell'arte for the 21st Century: Practice and Performance in the Asia-Pacific

This book discusses the evolution of Commedia dell'Arte in the Asia-Pacific where through the process of reinvention and recreation it has emerged as Neo-Commedia.

The authors in this collection chart their own training in the field and documenting their strategies for engaging with this form of theatre. In doing so, this book examines the current thoughts, ideas and perceptions of Commedia - a longstanding theatre genre, rooted in a European oral tradition for well over 500 years. The contributing artists, directors, teachers, scholars and theatre makers give insight into working styles, performance ideas, craft techniques and ways to engage an audience for whom Commedia is not part of their day-to-day culture. The volume presents case studies by current practitioners, some who have trained under known Commedia 'masters' (Fava, Mazzone-Clementi and Lecoq for example) and have returned to their country of origin where they have developed their performance and teaching praxis, and others (particularly in Japan, Thailand, Singapore) who have worked alongside invited 'orthodox' Italian practitioners.

This volume will be of great interest to students and scholars in Performing arts, Italian studies and History as well as practitioners in Commedia dell'Arte.