This book offers a timely examination of the relationship between Shakespeare and contemporary
digital media. By focusing upon a variety of 'Shakespearean' individuals groups and
communities and their 'online' presence the book explores the role of popular internet culture
in the ongoing adaptation of Shakespeare's plays and his general cultural standing. The
description of certain performers as 'Shakespearean' is a ubiquitous but often throwaway
assessment. However a study of 'Shakespearean' actors within a broader cultural context
reveals much not only about the mutable face of British culture (popular and 'highbrow') but
also about national identity and commerce. These performers share an online space with the
other major focus of the book: the fans and digital content creators whose engagement with the
Shakespearean marks them out as more than just audiences and consumers they become producers
and critics. Ultimately Digital Shakespeareans moves beyond the theatrical history focus of
related works to consider the role of digital culture and technology in shaping Shakespeare's
contemporary adaptive legacy and the means by which we engage with it.
