Exploring the Visual and Performative Appropriation of Shakespeare in Pakistani Theatres

Zakia Resshid

doi:10.18778/2083-8530.29.12

Authors

Zakia Resshid Institute of English Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6522-2320

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/2083-8530.29.12

Keywords:

Hamlet, Richard III, sign and symbols, Pakistani Theatre, NAPA, Aesthetics

Abstract

This research paper examines the experimental nature of appropriation focusing on The National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) renditions of Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1603) and Richard III (1597). It investigates how these adaptations bring about changes in both dramatic structure and artistic expression, dissecting visual and performative elements to uncover diverse meanings within live performances. The research delves into how NAPA’s creative choices offer new ways to examine Shakespeare’s universal themes—jealousy, incest, ambition, and hatred— through unconventional theatrical presentations, viewed from a post-dramatic perspective. Using Hans Thies Lehmann’s Post-dramatic theory (1960), it analyses alterations dramaturgical and aesthetical presentation such as plot construction, sign and symbol presentations. By bridging the gap between the art world and stagecraft, this study aims to deepen our understanding of how appropriation, aesthetics, and performance intersect. It also explores how these adaptations contribute to the global presentation of Shakespearean plays, offering insights from Pakistan’s theatrical landscape.

Author Biography

Zakia Resshid, Institute of English Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Zakia Resshid Ehsen is a Ph.D. in English Studies with over fifteen years in academia. She has served as an Assistant Professor at Riphah International University and Garrison Post Graduate College, and has been a visiting faculty member at the University of the Punjab. Zakia holds certificates in creative writing and English literature from institutions such as the University of Edinburgh, University of Reading, University of Sweden, and Wesleyan University. Her research, including papers published in Shakespeare and Contemporary Social Science, focuses on Post-Colonialism, Shakespearean Studies, and Critical Theory. She is an active member of the South Asian Literary Association and NeMLA.

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