Grand-Guignolesque: Classic and Contemporary Horror Theatre (Exeter Performance Studies)

While the infamous Théâtre du Grand-Guignol in Paris closed its doors in 1962, the particular form of horror theatre it spawned lives on and has, moreover, witnessed something of a resurgence over the past twenty years.During its heyday it inspired many imitators, though none quite as successful as the Montmartre-based original.In more recent times, new Grand-Guignol companies the world over have emerged to reimagine the form for a new generation of audiences.This book, the fourth volume in University of Exeter Press’s series on the Grand-Guignol by Richard J.Hand and Michael Wilson, examines the ongoing influence and legacy of the Théâtre du Grand-Guignol through an appraisal of its contemporary imitators and modern reincarnations. As with the previous volumes, Grand-Guignolesque consists of a lengthy critical introduction followed by a series of previously unpublished scripts, each with its own contextualizing preface.The effect thereof is to map the evolution of horror theatre over