Presented by John Barton ; actors: Peggy Ashcroft, Tony Church, Sinead Cusack, Judi Dench, Susan Fleetwood, Mike Gwilym, Sheila Hancock, Lisa Harrow, Alan Howard, Ben Kingsley, Jane Lapotaire, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Ian McKellen, Richard Pasco, Michael Pennington, Roger Rees, Norman Rodway, Donald Sinden, Patrick Stewart, David Suchet, Michael Williams. Collective title, episode titles & disc numeration from disc menus. Originally produced as 9 episodes of the television program Playing Shakespeare in 1982. Viewer's guide includes highlights from each episode, questions to consider for each episode, a bibliography, a history of the RSC, and a glossary. Special features (disc 1): actor biographies & RSC stage credits (for Aschcroft, Dench, Howard, Kingsley, McKellen, Stewart, Suchet).
Contents:
Episode 9, Episode 1, Poetry and hidden poetry. Episode 2, Using the verse ; Episode 3, Language and character -- Disc 2 (ca. 102 min.). Episode 4, Exploring a character ; Episode 5, Set speeches and soliloquies -- Disc 3 (ca. 102 min.). Episode 6, Irony and ambiguity ; Episode 7, Passion and coolness -- Disc 4 (ca. 104 min.). Episode 8, Rehearsing the text ; Episode 9, Poetry and hidden poetry.
Summary:
John Barton guides members of the Royal Shakespeare Company in nine intensive acting workshops, demonstrating how the Company makes Shakespeare's classic plays accessible to modern audiences without compromising the text's integrity.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.