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Playing Shakespeare: An Actor's Guide
Playing Shakespeare is the premier guide to understanding and appreciating the mastery of the world’s greatest playwright.
Together with Royal Shakespeare Company actors–among them Patrick Stewart, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Ben Kingsley, and David Suchet–John Barton demonstrates how to adapt Elizabethan theater for the modern stage. The director begins by explicating Shakespeare’s verse and prose, speeches and soliloquies, and naturalistic and heightened language to discover the essence of his characters. In the second section, Barton and the actors explore nuance in Shakespearean theater, from evoking irony and ambiguity and striking the delicate balance of passion and profound intellectual thought, to finding new approaches to playing Shakespeare’s most controversial creation, Shylock, from The Merchant of Venice . A practical and essential guide, Playing Shakespeare will stand for years as the authoritative favorite among actors, scholars, teachers, and students.
Together with Royal Shakespeare Company actors–among them Patrick Stewart, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Ben Kingsley, and David Suchet–John Barton demonstrates how to adapt Elizabethan theater for the modern stage. The director begins by explicating Shakespeare’s verse and prose, speeches and soliloquies, and naturalistic and heightened language to discover the essence of his characters. In the second section, Barton and the actors explore nuance in Shakespearean theater, from evoking irony and ambiguity and striking the delicate balance of passion and profound intellectual thought, to finding new approaches to playing Shakespeare’s most controversial creation, Shylock, from The Merchant of Venice . A practical and essential guide, Playing Shakespeare will stand for years as the authoritative favorite among actors, scholars, teachers, and students.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
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702 people want to read
About the author
John Barton
6 booksJohn Bernard Adie Barton, CBE (26 November 1928 – 18 January 2018) was a British theatre director and (with Peter Hall) a co-founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Source: Wikipedia
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 31, 2016
This book is problematic in the sense that it tries to almost ignore how useless countless passages can be without seeing it played by the actors; the descriptions offered do not help one bit. However, I found a way of reading this book that made it extremely useful. The Royal Shakespeare Company's workshop of which this book is based is all on YouTube. I'd watch the hour long instruction video dedicated to each chapter of the book alongside reading it and highlighting important passages, then I'd write a summary of the chapter to use later in my acting. (Yeah, it's exactly as time consuming as it sounds.) So, that's why I'm giving "Playing Shakespeare" such a high rating as my way of reading it actually worked, it wouldn't have helped me much if I'd only counted on the book.
To summarize: while there are some glaring problems with "Playing Shakespeare" (not only the ones I've discussed so far, but also a lack of more tangible exercises to develop as an actor), it's simply the best (and probably only, really) guide out there when it comes to playing Shakespeare. It left some things to be wanted, but overall I'm extremely grateful for the knowledge this book made available to me. Thank you, John Barton.
To summarize: while there are some glaring problems with "Playing Shakespeare" (not only the ones I've discussed so far, but also a lack of more tangible exercises to develop as an actor), it's simply the best (and probably only, really) guide out there when it comes to playing Shakespeare. It left some things to be wanted, but overall I'm extremely grateful for the knowledge this book made available to me. Thank you, John Barton.
December 2, 2008
Hands down the greatest and most insightful discourse on Shakespeare I have ever read. The book is basically a well-edited transcript of the partly scripted 1984 television series conducted by Barton with the Royal Shakespeare Company, whose ranks at the time were filled with the likes of Ian McKellan, Judi Dench, Ben Kingsly, and Patrick Stewart. Barton and Co. tackle the text from an actor's standpoint and really break the most intimidating aspects of Shakespeare down, revealing guidlines and stage directions that are hidden in the lines themselves. This book is not only a fascinating read for any person with a mild curiosity about Shakespeare, but also essential reading for anyone in the business of Theatre.
*As a side note: At this time, you can find many of the original television program on YouTube. Very interesting to watch since the VHS is nearly impossible to find.
*As a side note: At this time, you can find many of the original television program on YouTube. Very interesting to watch since the VHS is nearly impossible to find.
November 8, 2023
This book is IT. It is the Shakespeare Bible.
There’s not another text that I can think of that treats its subject matter with such care. It’s wise and clear and careful and it moves methodically through all the crucial topics: how to read verse, assess the text, and act. (The sonnets even make a brief appearance.)
If you act Shakespeare (even if you don’t!) you’ll find this book an absolute delight. So grab a pencil, settle in. Enjoy.
There’s not another text that I can think of that treats its subject matter with such care. It’s wise and clear and careful and it moves methodically through all the crucial topics: how to read verse, assess the text, and act. (The sonnets even make a brief appearance.)
If you act Shakespeare (even if you don’t!) you’ll find this book an absolute delight. So grab a pencil, settle in. Enjoy.
February 9, 2022
A marvelous book, although in truth primarily a transcription of a far more vital television series.
John Barton was, along with his theatrical partner Peter Hall, one of the foremost forces in defining how the mid-to-late 20th century understood and interpreted Shakespeare on the stage. Barton and Hall's development of the Royal Shakespeare Company set a new pace, a new vision, a new bar for actors to climb in their pursuit of understanding of the Bard. Alongside radical directors like Peter Brook and the dense political reworkings of Michael Bogdanov, Barton and Hall gave us the modern view of Shakespeare on the stage, through their landmark productions and their work with almost all of the great actors of my grandparents' generation. (Indeed, their work was so profound that many people these days take it to be "the" way of doing Shakespeare, forgetting both that previous generations' performance styles would be quite odd to our eyes, and that the current generation's desire to revitalise and decolonise Shakespeare on the page and on the stage is an equally valid approach.)
In 1979, Barton and some of his RSC actors staged two hourlong television specials examining the way actors approach Shakespeare. In 1982, ITV took this to another level by commissioning a full series. If you have any interest in this subject whatsoever, Playing Shakespeare is well worth seeking out. In a seemingly casual format, surrounded by eager students in the round, Barton sits in his tan-coloured cardigan and engages with a host of RSC actors, every one of them impressive. Household names abound (Dench, Stewart, Suchet, Kingsley, McKellen, Ashcroft) as well as luminaries of the stage, from Richard Pasco and the endlessly wondrous Jane Lapotaire to Michael Williams and the retired-too-soon Mike Gwilym.
Each episode tackles a concept, such as speaking the verse, bringing out the contradictions in the text, or character interpretation, as when David Suchet and Patrick Stewart (both of whom had played Shylock in a Barton production) spend an entire episode examining the key scenes in The Merchant of Venice. Most memorable is an episode devoted entirely to a single short scene from Twelfth Night, with the actors and Barton walking us through a rehearsal. Barton and co actually filmed a huge amount of material that didn't make it to air. The book consists of transcriptions of each episode (edited for clarity and form) as well as three chapters of "new" material from the unaired segments. (A weighty discussion between Barton and McKellen on performing contemporary Shakespeare seems an especial loss to the series.)
Although it aired before I was born, Playing Shakespeare conjures up a rich nostalgia in me. For an era when a mainstream television network felt it worthy to screen a series of Shakespearean acting insights for a non-specialist audience. When arts programming had a place in the schedule, and (some) members of the public felt it worthwhile to reach outside of their sphere for a moment of cultural enlightenment. It's also just a thoroughly charming and engaging series, and I highly recommend viewing it.
But as insights into the performance of Shakespeare, the book is also still valid forty years on.
John Barton was, along with his theatrical partner Peter Hall, one of the foremost forces in defining how the mid-to-late 20th century understood and interpreted Shakespeare on the stage. Barton and Hall's development of the Royal Shakespeare Company set a new pace, a new vision, a new bar for actors to climb in their pursuit of understanding of the Bard. Alongside radical directors like Peter Brook and the dense political reworkings of Michael Bogdanov, Barton and Hall gave us the modern view of Shakespeare on the stage, through their landmark productions and their work with almost all of the great actors of my grandparents' generation. (Indeed, their work was so profound that many people these days take it to be "the" way of doing Shakespeare, forgetting both that previous generations' performance styles would be quite odd to our eyes, and that the current generation's desire to revitalise and decolonise Shakespeare on the page and on the stage is an equally valid approach.)
In 1979, Barton and some of his RSC actors staged two hourlong television specials examining the way actors approach Shakespeare. In 1982, ITV took this to another level by commissioning a full series. If you have any interest in this subject whatsoever, Playing Shakespeare is well worth seeking out. In a seemingly casual format, surrounded by eager students in the round, Barton sits in his tan-coloured cardigan and engages with a host of RSC actors, every one of them impressive. Household names abound (Dench, Stewart, Suchet, Kingsley, McKellen, Ashcroft) as well as luminaries of the stage, from Richard Pasco and the endlessly wondrous Jane Lapotaire to Michael Williams and the retired-too-soon Mike Gwilym.
Each episode tackles a concept, such as speaking the verse, bringing out the contradictions in the text, or character interpretation, as when David Suchet and Patrick Stewart (both of whom had played Shylock in a Barton production) spend an entire episode examining the key scenes in The Merchant of Venice. Most memorable is an episode devoted entirely to a single short scene from Twelfth Night, with the actors and Barton walking us through a rehearsal. Barton and co actually filmed a huge amount of material that didn't make it to air. The book consists of transcriptions of each episode (edited for clarity and form) as well as three chapters of "new" material from the unaired segments. (A weighty discussion between Barton and McKellen on performing contemporary Shakespeare seems an especial loss to the series.)
Although it aired before I was born, Playing Shakespeare conjures up a rich nostalgia in me. For an era when a mainstream television network felt it worthy to screen a series of Shakespearean acting insights for a non-specialist audience. When arts programming had a place in the schedule, and (some) members of the public felt it worthwhile to reach outside of their sphere for a moment of cultural enlightenment. It's also just a thoroughly charming and engaging series, and I highly recommend viewing it.
But as insights into the performance of Shakespeare, the book is also still valid forty years on.
December 18, 2017
I learned more than I ever wanted to know about acting Shakespeare reading Playing Shakespeare. John Barton and a repertoire of experienced Shakespearean actors prove they know their stuff in this collection of lessons about acting, adapted from a BBC program that aired over the course of several weeks. Perhaps, then, this was a book more suited for actors who want to delve into Shakespeare than some average schmuck reader like me, but even still, I learned a lot.
Each of the chapters discusses certain elements of Shakespeare's works in terms of how they should be acted. Barton emphasizes both objective and subjective techniques that actors should be aware of when studying Shakespeare's works to perform: inflection, emotion, backstory, meter, etc. All of it was very thorough, and parts were admittedly overwhelming to my non-actor brain. Still, these discussions did raise many points to me as a reader of Shakespeare, thinking of how actors might interpret the lines out loud that I am merely reading in my head, or sometimes aloud.
I really enjoyed the chapter that involved a discussion between Barton and actor Ian McKellen in which they broached the topic of what it means to play Shakespeare in contemporary times. Both men agreed that Shakespeare is relevant in the subjects he wrote about, rather than modern directors (keeping in mind this book was published in the 1980s) forcing adaptations to Shakespearean works to seem edgy or pretentious, or whatever goal they hope to accomplish by squeezing more Shakespeare out of a seemingly dry sponge. McKellen told a touching story about politics that showed that despite a 400-year gap, Shakespeare's insights about humanity, instability and loss can still be relevant even if the situations surrounding them aren't similar in the slightest.
That is why I love Shakespeare so much. I've faced many stubborn opponents of Shakespeare who haven't read him solely for the reason that they think he's boring and outdated. But they haven't heard McKellen's story. They are missing out on the connection to humanity and morality that Shakespeare characters so often address. Despite the passage of four centuries, that hasn't changed about human nature at all. We can still connect with Shakespeare's characters despite not being overtly similar to them at all. That's why reading this book was even more insightful to me. I learned so much more about how Shakespeare's words are conveyed through acting, which in turn explained how modern actors face the challenge of trying to bring the words to live in a meaningful way.
Each of the chapters discusses certain elements of Shakespeare's works in terms of how they should be acted. Barton emphasizes both objective and subjective techniques that actors should be aware of when studying Shakespeare's works to perform: inflection, emotion, backstory, meter, etc. All of it was very thorough, and parts were admittedly overwhelming to my non-actor brain. Still, these discussions did raise many points to me as a reader of Shakespeare, thinking of how actors might interpret the lines out loud that I am merely reading in my head, or sometimes aloud.
I really enjoyed the chapter that involved a discussion between Barton and actor Ian McKellen in which they broached the topic of what it means to play Shakespeare in contemporary times. Both men agreed that Shakespeare is relevant in the subjects he wrote about, rather than modern directors (keeping in mind this book was published in the 1980s) forcing adaptations to Shakespearean works to seem edgy or pretentious, or whatever goal they hope to accomplish by squeezing more Shakespeare out of a seemingly dry sponge. McKellen told a touching story about politics that showed that despite a 400-year gap, Shakespeare's insights about humanity, instability and loss can still be relevant even if the situations surrounding them aren't similar in the slightest.
That is why I love Shakespeare so much. I've faced many stubborn opponents of Shakespeare who haven't read him solely for the reason that they think he's boring and outdated. But they haven't heard McKellen's story. They are missing out on the connection to humanity and morality that Shakespeare characters so often address. Despite the passage of four centuries, that hasn't changed about human nature at all. We can still connect with Shakespeare's characters despite not being overtly similar to them at all. That's why reading this book was even more insightful to me. I learned so much more about how Shakespeare's words are conveyed through acting, which in turn explained how modern actors face the challenge of trying to bring the words to live in a meaningful way.
February 21, 2010
The only thing that prevents me from giving this book five stars is that it is sometimes difficult to figure out what the actors are doing differently with their acting based on Barton's suggestions. The text outside of this is extremely clear and helpful, but it's difficult to see why it's necessary at all to copy the speeches multiple times in the text when it's impossible to see what the actor is really doing with them. It would make as much sense to print it the first time and then indicate the text is the same thereafter, and only have Barton's responses to the different techniques. Anyway, this is a small quibble; most of this is fantastic. And I know that at least one of the episodes from the tv series is up on youtube, which was very useful to see after having read the book, making it much easier to see where Barton's responses are coming from.
My version of the book also came with a DVD, which had recent informal interviews with four of the actors/actresses who worked with Barton in the original series.
My version of the book also came with a DVD, which had recent informal interviews with four of the actors/actresses who worked with Barton in the original series.
October 13, 2017
PLAYING SHAKESPEARE: AN ACTOR’S GUIDE by John Barton is a marvelous little book. It’s like sitting in on a Royal Shakespeare Company rehearsal and being introduced to all the subtlety that Shakespeare embedded into his work. The first dialogue between Romeo and Juliet is in sonnet form. Who knew?
The text of the book is based on a television series from 1982 in which Barton discusses the finer points of acting Shakespeare with the likes of Ben Kingsley, Judi Dench, and Patrick Stewart. These programs are available on YouTube!
Safe to say that your reading of Shakespeare will never again be the same after reading this book. I know that I will never read the “Once more unto the breach, dear friends” line again in the same way.
One last bit of advice: be sure you read this in a place where you can read aloud, because you will be caught up in the spirit of the performance. After all, you’re being coached by the great John Barton
The text of the book is based on a television series from 1982 in which Barton discusses the finer points of acting Shakespeare with the likes of Ben Kingsley, Judi Dench, and Patrick Stewart. These programs are available on YouTube!
Safe to say that your reading of Shakespeare will never again be the same after reading this book. I know that I will never read the “Once more unto the breach, dear friends” line again in the same way.
One last bit of advice: be sure you read this in a place where you can read aloud, because you will be caught up in the spirit of the performance. After all, you’re being coached by the great John Barton
June 4, 2022
“We’ve talked of possibilities, not rules, / of questions, balances, not absolutes. / So are there any rules? Yes. Try to find / what goes on in the text and ask yourself / if you can use it. You must not reject it / until you’ve smelled it out and asked the questions. / Never forget the verse is there to help you. / It can be heightened, and yet very often / it’s close to our own humdrum human speech. / Which of you noticed while I have been talking / that I what I’ve just said was in bad blank verse?”
So often I’m sucked up in looking at Shakespeare through the eyes of an English student rather than considering the text through the lenses through which it was originally meant to be perceived: the eyes and minds of actors and audience members. Barton’s guide is one of the most thought-provoking and exploratory narratives I’ve read about Shakespeare — it’s taken my curiosity and passion about Shakespeare as both an actor and a thinker to newer, unexpected levels!
So often I’m sucked up in looking at Shakespeare through the eyes of an English student rather than considering the text through the lenses through which it was originally meant to be perceived: the eyes and minds of actors and audience members. Barton’s guide is one of the most thought-provoking and exploratory narratives I’ve read about Shakespeare — it’s taken my curiosity and passion about Shakespeare as both an actor and a thinker to newer, unexpected levels!
February 25, 2019
I found this unputdownable. Basically it is John Barton with a small group of the best Shakespearian actors exploring the play texts and finding the clues that they give the actor. I thought it gave insight into how actors create character and situation and how they deal with verse and poetry. There is a revealing chapter on how Patrick Stewart and David Suchet developed contrasting characters for Shylock.
January 9, 2021
Fantastic. Judge this book by its cover. I kind of did and it exceeded expectations.
Adapted from a 1984 televised series you can find on YouTube, I enjoyed having the videos handy to watch the actors demonstrate. Actors like Ian McKellen, Judy Dench, Patrick Stewart, Ben Kingsley...
It's a dual masterclass in acting and lit analysis, always vivid and alive and to a rich worthwhile point, typical of the RSC folks. If the concept sounds interesting, you won't be disappointed.
Adapted from a 1984 televised series you can find on YouTube, I enjoyed having the videos handy to watch the actors demonstrate. Actors like Ian McKellen, Judy Dench, Patrick Stewart, Ben Kingsley...
It's a dual masterclass in acting and lit analysis, always vivid and alive and to a rich worthwhile point, typical of the RSC folks. If the concept sounds interesting, you won't be disappointed.
June 29, 2018
Excellent reflections on Shakespeare, acting, and art of all kinds. Originally a series of TV broadcasts, some chapters read better than others, but on the whole, it's a well-edited book and useful for understanding and appreciating Shakespeare and the theater.
June 8, 2022
I really want to find the documentary series this is based on, because it offered some FASCINATING insights into Shakespeare performance, especially in the 1980s — post decline of imperial Britain, pre the rise of the internet and mass media.
January 8, 2023
Very very helpful on learning shakespeare but it’s not the most beginner friendly acting book but I found it really helpful to combine reading the book and watching the live broadcast of the acting classes on youtube
January 18, 2018
Excellent
August 7, 2023
Speak the speech.
August 28, 2023
⭐️⭐️.5
You will need the DVD companion to get through this book
You will need the DVD companion to get through this book
February 17, 2024
READ IT READ IT READ IT
Read
June 16, 2025Very interesting but also absolutely not worth reading. I wish I had known this was just transcribing a TV series so I could have watched that instead!
December 29, 2025
3.5/4 stars. Really good information but the format is a little silly. I appreciate that they tried to put this info into a book though.
November 24, 2007
Although this book is wonderful in itself, I recommend it to be used alongside recordings of the television series of the same name. The book follows very closely the interaction between the director and actors in this Shakespeare workshop (which is itself staged and acted), but it cannot reproduce the voices and movements of the actors which are so much a part of their communication. On the other hand, the text is necessary, because it is helpful to see the verse and the verse markings in order to make sense of what the actors are doing. Also, there is so much information being conveyed, that the text provides a review and explanation of the televised workshop. Together, the book and program have really helped to read and speak Shakespearian verse with more understanding and clarity.
The old videocassettes of the series are falling apart; fortunately, it has been re-issued on DVD.
The old videocassettes of the series are falling apart; fortunately, it has been re-issued on DVD.
January 25, 2010
This book is largely a transcription of the 1984 television series, Playing Shakespeare. It's really best read as a companion to the series, which has recently been released on DVD. In the book form, you get all of the analysis and instruction, but don't actually get the experience of seeing and hearing the actors playing the lines. Experiencing the actual performances makes the points that Barton makes so much more vivid. (Really, I think the DVDs are essential viewing for anyone who is interested in Shakespeare, or even in acting in general.)
However, there are some advantages to having the material in book form - if you want to read the Shakespearean passages yourself at leisure, and think about the discussion at greater length, the book lends itself to that much more than the DVDs do.
However, there are some advantages to having the material in book form - if you want to read the Shakespearean passages yourself at leisure, and think about the discussion at greater length, the book lends itself to that much more than the DVDs do.
April 21, 2010
This book has been criticized for trying to do in print what can only be done when you can hear: teach how to speak Shakespeare. This seems reasonable and is even truish, but while the TV series that spawned this book is a more satisfying experience, the book delivers lots of great ideas and the conversations between actors about roles they have played is priceless in any medium. This is a terrific book.
October 14, 2010
This book is a companion/transcript of a fantastic series put on by the BBC and RSC during the 80s which unlocked the language of Shakespeare for the actor and layperson alike. It is a must read for any actor or Shakespeare enthusiast. The video series itself has (thankfully) been released on DVD.
January 9, 2013
I'd give it five stars if it came with the DVD (brilliant and findable on YouTube), but it's an excellent reference nonetheless, full of gems for the aspiring (or experienced) classical actor. Barton and his crew of actors leave no stone unturned discussing how to unpack Shakespeare and bring his characters to sympathetic life on stage.
September 23, 2014
Very good as a companion to the TV series of the same name; if I had to choose one (DVD vs. book), I'd recommend viewing the series over reading about it, however. The "Exploring a Character" chapter suffers the most from not being able to view David Suchet's and Patrick Stewart's interpretations of Shylock.
May 7, 2009
I don't think anything will beat the Playing Shakespeare series that was done for television however this almost word-for-word account almost makes up for it.
John Barton and the rest of the members of the RSC have done a great job of explaining just how one can play Shakespeare.
John Barton and the rest of the members of the RSC have done a great job of explaining just how one can play Shakespeare.
December 17, 2009
I found this book to be of tremendous help to me and my craft, I've read it 3 times and will probably read it many more times. My only quibble is that the book is only half of the experience, once you watch the DVDs you will taste a little slice of sublime majesty.
March 2, 2011
Not sure why someone would read this - the gist of it is available as a TV program either on DVD or on YouTube. Considering how important voice and word stressing and pronunciation are to Shakespeare, why read the book when you can actually hear the examples with the video?
March 14, 2011
Delightful! Barton disects Shakespeare in a way that is imperrative to any classical actor. Though I do prefer to view the video sessions that the book was derived from, the book iself is nicely put together. No one does Shakespeare quite like Barton.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews