This volume serves as a comprehensive reference work designed to document the history, theory, and practice of global theatre traditions. Phyllis Hartnoll compiles an extensive collection of entries covering playwrights, actors, directors, and technical aspects of stagecraft. The work utilizes a historical framework to trace the evolution of dramatic performance from antiquity to the modern era, providing a structured resource for students and scholars alike.

Scholars and theatre practitioners frequently cite this work as a standard reference tool for its breadth and historical accuracy. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which makes it better suited for research purposes than casual reading.