The Routledge Reader in Gender and Performance presents some of the most influential and widely-known work on gender and performing arts, together with exciting and provocative new writings in the field.This comprehensive volume reviews women's contributions to theatre history and examines how theatre has represented women over the centuries. The reader is introduced to major theoretical approaches, and more complex questions about gender, the body and cross-dressing. Taking a thoroughly international perspective, this book provides material on gender in the theatre of several countries, including post-apartheid South Africa and post-communist Russia. This first collection in the field covers:* women's stage work* women's bodies on stage* feminist approaches* comparative perspectives* women's status in the theatre* reception and reviewingThe Routledge Reader in Gender and Performance reviews ways in which sexuality has been explored and expressed in new forms of performance art and dance. The articles are arranged systematically to guide the reader from topic to topic, and specially linked articles by scholars and teachers explain key issues and put the extracts in context.