Players of Shakespeare 2
Further Essays in Shakespearean Performance by Players with the Royal Shakespeare Company

Russell Jackson (Edited by), Robert Smallwood (Edited by)

9780521389037, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 12 October 1989

216 pages, 33 b/w illus.
22.8 x 15.3 x 1.5 cm, 0.355 kg

'... there is not one among these essays which does not contain at least something of interest: a fresh insight into the meaning of a line, or a plausible explanation of hitherto inexplicable conduct on the part of a character'. Charles Osborne, The Daily Telegraph

This is the second volume of essays by actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Fourteen actors describe the Shakespearean roles they played in productions between 1982 and 1987. The contributors are Roger Allam, Frances Barber, Kenneth Branagh, Niamh Cusack, Ben Kingsley, Ian McDiarmid, Daniel Massey, Edward Petherbridge, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Antony Sher, Juliet Stevenson, David Suchet and Zoe Wanamaker. Each gives a unique insight into the preparation and performance of a major Shakespearean role and how a character is created through responding to Shakespeare's text, within the context of a particular director's conception and the environment established by the designer. A brief biographical note is provided for each of the contributors and an introduction places the essays in the context of the Stratford and London stages, and of the music and design for the particular productions.

List of illustrations
Foreword Russell Jackson
Introduction Daniel Massey
The Duke in Measure for Measure Edward Petherbridge
Armado in Love's Labour's Lost Ian McDiarmid
Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Fiona Shaw and Juliet Stevenson
Celia and Rosalind in As You Like It Alan Rickman
Jacques in As You Like It Zoe Wanamaker
Viola in Twelfth Night Kenneth Branagh
Henry V Roger Allam
Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet Niamh Cusack
Juliet in Romeo and Juliet Frances Barber
Ophelia in Hamlet Antony Sher
The Fool in King Lear Ben Kingsley
Othello David Suchet
Iago in Othello
Production credits
Further reading.

Subject Areas: Shakespeare studies & criticism [DSGS]