Benjamin Poore Bücher

This compelling examination of the relationship between theatre and empire examines how we might think of these two notions together and how we might see empire itself as theatre. Using a variety of case studies, Benjamin Poore argues that a 'theatre of empire' has thrived recently in the UK because it has emphasised untold stories of empires, and adopted neglected perspectives. He suggests that theatre is one of the few places where sustained reflection on empire is possible, and questions whether we're still caught in an imperial moment today.

Exploring the portrayal of Victorians on stage, this book examines how these representations have shaped contemporary notions of Britishness amidst a politically charged debate. It offers fresh insights into the works of renowned playwrights such as Bond, Edgar, and Churchill, illustrating the connections between theatre and broader cultural contexts. Through this analysis, the book highlights the significant role of drama in reflecting and influencing societal values and political discourse over the past forty years.

This book investigates the development of Sherlock Holmes adaptations in British theatre since the turn of the millennium. Sherlock Holmes has become a cultural phenomenon all over again in the twenty-first century, as a result of the television series Sherlock and Elementary, and films like Mr Holmes and the Guy Ritchie franchise starring Robert Downey Jr. In the light of these new interpretations, British theatre has produced timely and topical responses to developments in the screen Sherlocks’ stories. Moreover, stage Sherlocks of the last three decades have often anticipated the knowing, metafictional tropes employed by screen adaptations. This study traces the recent history of Sherlock Holmes in the theatre, about which very little has been written for an academic readership. It argues that the world of Sherlock Holmes is conveyed in theatre by a variety of games that activate new modes of audience engagement.