A Cultural History of Theatre

This is a terrific textbook. It has accurate information, good photos and illustrations, is well organized, and is easy to read. It is not the most detailed theatre history text out there, but, as a college professor who has read a great many of those texts, I find this by far the most effective tool for teaching undergraduate students about theatre.

A Cultural History of Theatre by Grant McKernie and Jack Watson is a terrific tool for learning about the development of dramatic arts. The book traces the history of theatre from the Greeks to modern day. By combining theatrical history with developments in art, science, and politics, the reader gets a clear view of the world that shaped the dramatic performance of the day. I was privilaged to use this book in a class taught by Grant McKernie, a professor who makes theatre interesting for everyone from the serious actor to the serious sports fan. This is a great book for high schoolers through adults trying to understand how and why the dramatic arts developed.