Shakespearean playscripts as literary works: A performance edition of King Lear published by the Budapest National Theatre

Abstract

Shakespeare's plays have been subject to editorial manipulation since their first appearance in print. Besides the quartos, folios, and critical editions, performance editions, although often neglected by critics, are also part of this editorial tradition. This article argues that published playscripts of Shakespeare's plays present an intriguing field within promptbook research for their literary and theatrical qualities and can be interpreted as literary works. After a brief theoretical background, this study gives a narrative analysis of a performance edition of King Lear produced by the renowned Transylvanian director, László Bocsárdi, and published by the Budapest National Theatre in 2008.