Abigail Rokison’s Shakespeare for Young People

Amanda Giguere (Colorado Shakespeare Festival)

Abigail Rokison’s 2013 book, Shakespeare for Young People: Productions, Versions and Adaptations, published by Bloomsbury, provides an overview of the variety of ways in which young people are introduced to Shakespeare. Rokison clarifies in her introduction that the book is not exhaustive, but merely “a snapshot in time of the work that is being done to engage young people with Shakespeare and to extend their enjoyment and understanding of the plays.” The project is not focused on pedagogical approaches to Shakespeare, nor on classroom experiences, but instead explores “the various means—theatrical, filmic, and textual—through which young people encounter [Shakespeare’s] plays.”

Rokison divides the text into three sections: full-scale productions, shortened versions, and rewrites of Shakespeare. Her structure allows the reader to begin with versions closest to the source: full productions of Shakespeare plays, both in film and on stage. As the book continues, she moves the reader along the spectrum, toward versions that make more and more changes to Shakespeare, from abridged performances to storybooks, and, eventually, to original plays and novels inspired by Shakespeare. The aim of Rokison’s project is to provide readers with a deep exploration of some ways a young person might encounter Shakespeare. Although Rokison does not specify her intended audience, the book might serve school teachers, theatre teaching artists, and theatre administrators alike. Rokison’s tone is accessible and comfortable; the book does not seem to be directed at fellow academics,…