Exploring Shakespeare: A Director's Notes from the Rehearsal Room

by Bill Alexander

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  and  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,  Exploring Shakespeare  is a masterclass for directors and actors, and a fascinating insight for anyone interested in Shakespeare.

256 pages, Paperback

Published April 16, 2024