A mildly
derogatory term used by
contemporary theatre professionals and scholars to refer to a theatrical
production that is done in the exact manner of the original production of the
play.
An example of some museum pieces are the
replications of
Shakespeare’s plays and
The New Globe in
London.
For many theatre professional it is essential that a production of an older
text be done in such a manner that the text may reach a
modern audience. This does not always mean “doing it in
modern dress.” To prevent a play from becoming a museum piece it must merely be placed in
context though choices in
acting style,
design and
direction that allow an audience of today to get in touch with
the heart of the play.