First published in 1989, this book focuses on the handling of the relationship between the onstage world and the offstage world, between the world that Shakespeare shows us and the one he tells us about. It examines Shakespeare from a director's viewpoint and explains why dramatists must explore the proportions and weighting of interactions.

Preface. Introduction. Part 1 1. 'Such News As You Never Heard Of': The Functions of Reporting in Shakespeare's Plays 2. 'There is a World Elsewhere': The Functions of Stage Absence in the Structure of Shakespeare's Plays 3. 'Are Those my Tents Where I Perceive the Fire?': The Structure of Shakespeare's Battles and their Onstage/Offstage Action Part 2 4. 'Mangling by Starts the Full Course of their Glory': The Legend and the Reality of War in Henry V 5. 'Is Thy News Good or Bad? Answer to That': The Use of Reports and the Structure of Roles in Romeo and Juliet 6. 'I am Dumb!': The Absence and Presence of Antonio in The Merchant of Venice 7. 'O Julius Caesar, Thou Art Mighty Yes!: The Potency of Caesar On and Off the Stage, Alive and Dead 8. 'If That an Eye May Profit by a Tongue': The functions of Reporting and Stage Absence in As You Like It 9. 'He is Himself Alone': The Use of Battle, Report, and Stage Absence in Coriolanus. Index.