Ristori, the Great Actors, and Shakespearean Scripts across Italy, England, and the United States

Ristori, the Grandi Attori and Shakespearean scripts between Italy, England and the United States: the paper offers an overview of the current state of research and ongoing studies on the philological analysis of Shakespearean scripts used by prominent Italian actors, with an initial focus on Adelaide Ristori's Macbeth. Particular attention is given to the potential scientific outcomes of a systematic investigation of these materials, which encompass creative processes, methods of repertoire transmission, and the complex relationship between the stage and theatrical publishing. Special emphasis is placed on the broader cultural implications of the international exchanges between Italian and Anglophone actors, as documented in prompt books, editions, translations, and adaptations, which played a significant role in disseminating the Shakespearean canon in Italy.