Looking for Shakespeare: The global and the local in Mauritian Shakespeare adaptation and classroom practice

Abstract

This article considers manifestations of both global and local Shakespeares in Mauritius. It starts with Dev Virahsawmy’s Shakespeare adaptations – Toufann (1991) in particular – as a well-known point of reference, placing the globalisation of Shakespeare in a localised (Mauritian) space into perspective via a discussion of language and context. The authors then reflect on the use of YouTube in the teaching of Shakespeare in undergraduate classes at the University of Mauritius, with selected adverts and music videos exemplifying a new ‘mash-up’ form of Shakespeare. Both Shakespeare and YouTube are carriers/channels of culture; while Shakespeare remains an emblematic figure, however, tertiary level classroom practice challenges the notion that his works are ‘timeless’ and ‘universal’.