You Wouldn't Want to Be a Shakespearean Actor!: Some Roles You Might Not Want to Play

You Wouldn't Want to Be ...

by Jacqueline Morley, David Antram (Illustrator)

This lively, interactive series will enthrall young and reluctant readers by making them part of the story, inviting them to become the main character and revel in the gory, dark, horrific side of life during important eras in history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Shakespeare, Picture Books

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Jacqueline Morley studied English at Oxford University and has taught English and History. She is the author of numerous books, including award-winning historical nonfiction titles for children. Her books have won several TES Senior Information book awards.

Reviews

[Chelsea Hoschar · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Wouldn't Want to be a Shakespearean Actor! is another fantastic story by Jacqueline Morley that tells about the reality of the conditions faced by actors in the 1500-1600s. Fascinating facts about how plays worked, who got what roles, and where plays were held are told in a fun story fashion, that puts the reader in as the main character. Bright, fun, and colorful pictures fill each page and help tell the story. This book is an interesting read, not only for kids, but for adults as well.
This book is great to use when tutoring kids in reading because the sentence structure is advanced but not overly difficult. The illustrations throughout are also helpful for assisting students in understanding what is happening in the story. This story is also educational and covers an interesting topic that boys and girls around the third through sixth grade ages would enjoy learning about.
Morley, J. (2010). You Wouldn't Want to Be a Shakespearean Actor! New York: Franklin Watts, Scholastic Inc.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the title is a bit misleading, it's still an interesting overview of theater in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
Unlike many of the books in this series, it does not focus on a dangerous or disgusting profession or situation, just a difficult one: making a living as an actor. That's not so different today, and plenty of people still try to do it.
What makes it a bit goofy, for young readers at least, is that back then, women were not allowed to act, so the female roles had to be acted by teen boys. We follow the career of one such, as he eventually grows up and goes on to be a bit actor in male roles, but mostly the book is about theatrical history itself, and the building of some of the famous theaters of London. The vocabulary lessons in the book were interesting, and readers will learn the real origin of intermission at a play.

[Rebecca]

This is a really cute book. It reminded me of the Oragon Trail game. You are a character and such and such misfortune befalls you. The book tells history in short, fun segments and ends on a positive note. I see why the kids are always asking if we have these at the library.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

good history book about theatre

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asher (8yo) read.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately no new info on the bard or life in the theatre for this theatre fan, but for those unaware it is a very cool insight into the world of politics, drama, persecution, etc.

[Maggie Panning · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style, written as though you (the child) are a character in it, in this case a Shakespearean actor, drives me a bit nuts. And reading aloud a book like this with thought bubbles is rarely fun. Perhaps I would have enjoyed this more had this been the first book we had read on Shakespeare and the theaters he wrote for, but it wasn't and there was nothing new here.

[Zelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a fun read. being a theatre geek, i happen to have picked this up. Didn't know what I was in for really, but I love how everything was presented. there was a sort of storyline, a fun fact thing, and even very well done pictures.