Gender performance and the rise of actresses in modern Asian theatre

This chapter continues the examination, from the previous one, of the relationship between modernity, gender performance and the rise of actresses in Asian theatre from the point of view of modern spoken theatre. It focuses on the battles between female impersonation that reflected traditional concepts of gender fluidity and gender-specific casting based on modern realistic representation, as well as the roles of nationalism, women's liberation movements and commercial forces. The following sections provide examples from India, Japan, China, Korea and Southeast Asia.