Playing Shakespeare

Playing Shakespeare emerged from John Barton's 1982 television series for the Royal Shakespeare Company. The book documents workshops and discussions between Barton and RSC actors as they explore Shakespeare's text and performance techniques. Barton breaks down specific elements of Shakespearean acting - including verse speaking, rhetoric, irony, and character work. His analysis moves between script excerpts, historical context, and practical demonstrations with actors like Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, and Patrick Stewart. The text follows a workshop format, capturing conversations and exercises as actors work through scenes. Barton's explanations alternate with actor commentary and script analysis, creating a comprehensive guide to Shakespeare performance. This book bridges scholarly analysis and practical stagecraft, revealing how Shakespeare's language contains embedded clues for performance. Its examination of text-based acting techniques has influenced classical theater training methods since its publication.

Readers value this book as a practical guide to performing Shakespeare, particularly appreciating the specific examples and detailed insights into language, meter, and character interpretation. Many note it works best as a companion to Barton's original BBC television series rather than as a standalone text. Likes: - Clear explanations of verse speaking and scansion - Real rehearsal transcripts showing actor-director interactions - Concrete techniques for approaching the text Dislikes: - Dense, academic writing style - Can feel scattered and hard to follow without the video series - Some find the dialogue format tedious "It made Shakespeare's language feel approachable and alive," writes one reader. Another notes "the transcripts capture genuine moments of discovery between actors and director." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.24/5 (989 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (168 ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (89 ratings) Most negative reviews focus on readability issues rather than content quality.

Speaking Shakespeare by Patsy Rodenburg A Royal Shakespeare Company voice coach presents detailed techniques for delivering Shakespearean text through breath control, meter interpretation, and physical movement.

Shakespeare's Words by David Crystal, Ben Crystal A comprehensive guide breaks down Shakespeare's language through glossaries, syntax explanations, and usage examples from the plays.

The Actor and the Text by Cicely Berry The Royal Shakespeare Company's voice director outlines methods for actors to connect with classical texts through vocal exercises and textual analysis.

Freeing Shakespeare's Voice by Kristin Linklater A step-by-step process demonstrates how actors can unlock Shakespeare's meanings through vocal technique and verse interpretation.

Thinking Shakespeare by Barry Edelstein A practical method teaches actors how to analyze Shakespeare's language through scansion, rhetoric, and verse structure.

🎭 The book is based on John Barton's acclaimed 1984 television series of the same name, which featured performances and workshops with the Royal Shakespeare Company. 🎭 John Barton co-founded the Royal Shakespeare Company with Peter Hall in 1960 and worked with the company for over 40 years, directing more than 50 productions. 🎭 The book explores how modern actors can bridge the gap between Shakespeare's language and contemporary speech patterns, using exercises and examples from actual RSC rehearsals. 🎭 Many renowned actors who appear in the book's examples, including Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, and Patrick Stewart, went on to become some of the most celebrated Shakespearean performers of their generation. 🎭 Barton developed a unique approach to speaking Shakespeare's verse called "heightened naturalism," which combines conversational delivery with careful attention to the text's poetic structure.