Childhood in Contemporary Performance of Shakespeare

This insightful study examines how Shakespeare's surprisingly numerous child characters have been interpreted in modern stage and film productions over the past forty years. Miller's interdisciplinary approach combines performance studies, childhood theory, and semiotic analysis to reveal how contemporary directors and actors reimagine these often-overlooked roles. The book demonstrates that child figures in Shakespeare—from young princes to fairy attendants—serve as crucial lenses through which modern audiences understand themes of inheritance, innocence, and political vulnerability. Through detailed case studies of recent productions, Miller shows how these performances reflect evolving cultural attitudes toward childhood itself.

What distinguishes this work is its sophisticated yet accessible synthesis of queer theory and childhood studies applied specifically to theatrical practice. Miller doesn't just analyze performances; she reveals how child characters become sites for contemporary anxieties about agency, gender, and power dynamics. Theater practitioners and Shakespeare scholars will find particularly valuable insights into how these roles challenge both actors and audiences. The book ultimately transforms how we perceive Shakespeare's youngest characters—no longer as minor figures but as central to understanding the emotional and political stakes of his plays in our current moment.