Performing Blackness on English Stages, 1500–1800

Discover the intricate history of blackface performance in "Performing Blackness on English Stages, 1500–1800" by Virginia Mason Vaughan. Published by Cambridge University Press in 2008, this insightful paperback spans 208 pages, exploring the evolution of black representation in English theater. Vaughan delves into the dynamics of blackface, tracing its roots from the cycle plays of the early sixteenth century to Shakespeare's complex characters like Aaron and Othello, and the portrayal of enslaved African princes in the eighteenth-century stage. This compelling examination not only sheds light on the theatrical practices of the time but also invites readers to reflect on the broader implications of race and representation in literature. A must-read for scholars and enthusiasts of theater history, this book provides a nuanced understanding of how blackness was performed and perceived in England's dramatic arts.