The Bible as Theatre

Table of Contents (PDF)

"Shimon Levy has found a highly original new approach to the Bible: to treat the narrative portions of the Old Testament as dramatic texts that can be analysed in terms of dialogue, stage directions, scenic design, gesture, plotline, dramatic tension, characterization, and all the other viewpoints applicable to dramatic texts. He brings what must be truly unique combination of total mastery of stagecraft and the vocabulary of dramatic criticism with an astonishing knowledge of the Bible and its Hebrew language. This is a book to be read with the Bible at one's side: by treating these texts on a strictly factual, down-to-earth basis, with due reverence but without uncritical devotion, it not only deepens one's understanding of a multitude of cultural, social and historical aspects of its contents, but also re-tells these tremendous stories with riveting detail, emotion and suspense." Martin Esslin

"The Bible as Theatre's consideration of a wide variety of Biblical materials from a dramaturgical point of view adds a rich new dimention to many familiar stories and brings fresh prominence and fresh perspectives to an even greater number of less familiar ones. Character relationships and motivations are explored in striking and memorable detail and the attention to the physical settings and symbolic properties that frame these actions provides illuminating contextualization. The book will be an important contribution both to Biblical and theatre studies."

Marvin Carlson, Sidney E. Cohn Professor of Theatre Comparative Literature, CUNY Graduate Center, New York University

The Bible as Theatre discusses biblical "stage-instructions" pertaining to time, space, movement, costumes, props, lighting, and other theatrical components, which are often "built-in" and integral to the text's purpose. It sets out the theatrical roles of Deborah, Tamar, Ruth, Esther, Elisha, Jonah, Ezekiel, Moses, Jehu, and David and Bathsheba, as well as examinig issues such as the female body as stage-prop and educational theatre Proverbs.

Shimon Levy is Chairman of the Department of Theatre Arts at Tel Aviv University.