This collection of essays offers a new understanding of local and global myths that have been constructed around Shakespeare in theatre, cinema, and television from the nineteenth century to the present. Drawing on a definition of myth as a powerful ideological narrative, this book examines historical, political, and cultural conditions of Shakespearean performances in Europe, Asia, and North and South America. The study of local identities and global icons uncovers dynamic relationships between regional, national, and transnational myths of Shakespeare.