This Element offers a first-person phenomenological history of watching productions of Shakespeare during the pandemic year of 2020. It explores how Shakespeare 'went viral' during the first lockdown of 2020.
Rapid changes in performance technologies are changing how we view early modern drama. The book explores how candlelight and architecture make each spectator's viewing experience unique; how digital media alter viewers' interactions with live performances; and how theatre broadcasts fundamentally affect the reception of Shakespeare.