In
Exploring Shakespeare
, acclaimed theatre director Bill Alexander takes us inside the rehearsal room to reveal – in unprecedented and captivating detail – exactly what happens there. He examines the key relationship between the actors and the director, how they work together to bring Shakespeare's vision to life, and how choices are made that will shape every aspect of the play in production.
Full of acute observations and perceptions drawn from a long and brilliant career, the book covers the essential aspects of any Shakespeare production, from understanding the world of the play, to preparing and cutting the text, deciding on costumes and set design, handling soliloquies, and considering character and backstory.
There are detailed studies of eight plays spanning the full length and breadth of the Shakespearean canon, from
Titus Andronicus
and
The Shrew
to
The Tempest
, via
Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet, Lear
Twelfth Night
. Alexander also provides first-hand case studies of three of his own productions, including his famous
Richard III
starring Antony Sher.
Personal, forthright, and full of pragmatic advice,
is a masterclass for directors and actors, and a fascinating insight for anyone interested in Shakespeare.