Delves into the theatre of Spanish dramatist Jose Maria Rodriguez Mendez, one of the most significant Spanish playwrights of the twentieth century and an acerbic cultural commentator. This book traces the development of Rodriguez Mendez's work from the hard times of the Franco dictatorship through the uncertainties of the transition to democracy.

Introduction - Page 9 - Michael Thompson 1. 'Dramatizing Spanishness' - Page 17 - Michael Thompson 2. 'Rodriguez Mendez's essays: realism, machismo espanol, inteligencia espanola and historical theatre' - Page 43 - Michael Thompson 3. 'History from below (1): enclosed spaces' - Page 71 - Michael Thompson 4. 'History from below (2): open spaces' - Page 103 - Michael Thompson 5. 'Leading roles in history' - Page 153 - Michael Thompson 6. 'Fading echoes of the past in contemporary Spain' - Page 193 - Michael Thompson

"Thompson is able to reveal the more nuanced thinking of a subject whose work squarely addresses questions of where Spanish identity lies, taking against the perceived indiscriminate internationalism of the avantgarde to excavate Spanishness, whilst at the same time attempting to seize it from hegemonic and homogenizing discourses." - Helena Buffery, Bulletin of Hispanic Studies "Performing Spanishness can be considered a valuable contribution to twentieth-century Spanish theatre studies and a resource for those interested in debates on social and cultural history and Spanish national identities." - Catherine O'Leary, Contemporary Theatre Review