Performing Hamlet

Performing Hamlet

Author: Jonathan Croall

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2018-08-23

Total Pages: 217

ISBN-13: 1350030740

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Hamlet is arguably the most famous play on the planet, and the greatest of all Shakespeare's works. Its rich story and complex leading role have provoked intense debate and myriad interpretations. To play such a uniquely multi-faceted character as Hamlet represents the supreme challenge for a young actor. Performing Hamlet contains Jonathan Croall's revealing in-depth interviews with five distinguished actors who have played the Prince this century: Jude Law: 'You get to speak possibly the most beautiful lines about humankind ever given to an actor.' Simon Russell Beale: 'Hamlet is a very hospitable role: it will take anything you throw at it.' David Tennant: 'No other part has been so satisfying. It was tough, but utterly compelling.' Maxine Peake: 'Hamlet was a way of accessing bits of me as an actress I've not been able to access before.' Adrian Lester: 'Working with Peter Brook on Hamlet changed me as an actor, and for the better.' The book benefits from the author's interviews with six leading directors of the play during these years: Greg Doran, Nicholas Hytner, Michael Grandage, John Caird, Sarah Frankcom and Simon Godwin. Many other productions are described, from those starring Michael Redgrave, Alec Guinness and Paul Scofield in the 1950s, to the performances of Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott and Paapa Essiedu in recent times. The volume also includes an updated text of the author's earlier book Hamlet Observed, and an account of actors' experiences of performing at Elsinore.


Book Synopsis Performing Hamlet by : Jonathan Croall

Download or read book Performing Hamlet written by Jonathan Croall and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2018-08-23 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hamlet is arguably the most famous play on the planet, and the greatest of all Shakespeare's works. Its rich story and complex leading role have provoked intense debate and myriad interpretations. To play such a uniquely multi-faceted character as Hamlet represents the supreme challenge for a young actor. Performing Hamlet contains Jonathan Croall's revealing in-depth interviews with five distinguished actors who have played the Prince this century: Jude Law: 'You get to speak possibly the most beautiful lines about humankind ever given to an actor.' Simon Russell Beale: 'Hamlet is a very hospitable role: it will take anything you throw at it.' David Tennant: 'No other part has been so satisfying. It was tough, but utterly compelling.' Maxine Peake: 'Hamlet was a way of accessing bits of me as an actress I've not been able to access before.' Adrian Lester: 'Working with Peter Brook on Hamlet changed me as an actor, and for the better.' The book benefits from the author's interviews with six leading directors of the play during these years: Greg Doran, Nicholas Hytner, Michael Grandage, John Caird, Sarah Frankcom and Simon Godwin. Many other productions are described, from those starring Michael Redgrave, Alec Guinness and Paul Scofield in the 1950s, to the performances of Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott and Paapa Essiedu in recent times. The volume also includes an updated text of the author's earlier book Hamlet Observed, and an account of actors' experiences of performing at Elsinore.

Hamlet, Globe to Globe

Hamlet, Globe to Globe

Author: Dominic Dromgoole

Publisher: Open Road + Grove/Atlantic

Published: 2017-04-26

Total Pages: 374

ISBN-13: 0802189687

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A New York Times Notable Book: “A loving testament to the enduring ability of Shakespeare’s play to connect in myriad ways across countries and cultures” (Pop Matters). For the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth, the Globe Theatre undertook an unparalleled journey: to take Hamlet to every country on the planet, to share this beloved play with the entire world. The tour was the brainchild of Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director of the Globe, and in Hamlet: Globe to Globe, Dromgoole takes readers along with him. From performing in sweltering deserts, ice-cold cathedrals, and heaving marketplaces, and despite food poisoning in Mexico, the threat of ambush in Somaliland, an Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and political upheaval in Ukraine, the Globe’s players pushed on. Dromgoole shows us the world through the prism of Shakespeare—what the Danish prince means to the people of Sudan, the effect of Ophelia on the citizens of Costa Rica, and how a sixteenth-century play can touch the lives of Syrian refugees. And thanks to this incredible undertaking, Dromgoole uses the world to glean new insight into this masterpiece, exploring the play’s history, its meaning, and its pleasures. “The Shakespearean equivalent of Bourdain’s TV series, Parts Unknown. . . . [Dromgoole’s] aesthetic principle, or unprincipled aesthetic, makes him a natural tour guide for global Shakespeare . . . A comic epic.” —The Washington Post


Book Synopsis Hamlet, Globe to Globe by : Dominic Dromgoole

Download or read book Hamlet, Globe to Globe written by Dominic Dromgoole and published by Open Road + Grove/Atlantic. This book was released on 2017-04-26 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A New York Times Notable Book: “A loving testament to the enduring ability of Shakespeare’s play to connect in myriad ways across countries and cultures” (Pop Matters). For the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth, the Globe Theatre undertook an unparalleled journey: to take Hamlet to every country on the planet, to share this beloved play with the entire world. The tour was the brainchild of Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director of the Globe, and in Hamlet: Globe to Globe, Dromgoole takes readers along with him. From performing in sweltering deserts, ice-cold cathedrals, and heaving marketplaces, and despite food poisoning in Mexico, the threat of ambush in Somaliland, an Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and political upheaval in Ukraine, the Globe’s players pushed on. Dromgoole shows us the world through the prism of Shakespeare—what the Danish prince means to the people of Sudan, the effect of Ophelia on the citizens of Costa Rica, and how a sixteenth-century play can touch the lives of Syrian refugees. And thanks to this incredible undertaking, Dromgoole uses the world to glean new insight into this masterpiece, exploring the play’s history, its meaning, and its pleasures. “The Shakespearean equivalent of Bourdain’s TV series, Parts Unknown. . . . [Dromgoole’s] aesthetic principle, or unprincipled aesthetic, makes him a natural tour guide for global Shakespeare . . . A comic epic.” —The Washington Post

Shakespeare on Toast

Shakespeare on Toast

Author: Ben Crystal

Publisher: Icon Books Ltd

Published: 2015-12-24

Total Pages: 195

ISBN-13: 178578031X

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Actor, producer and director Ben Crystal revisits his acclaimed book on Shakespeare for the 400th anniversary of his death, updating and adding three new chapters. Shakespeare on Toast knocks the stuffing from the staid old myth of the Bard, revealing the man and his plays for what they really are: modern, thrilling, uplifting drama. The bright words and colourful characters of the greatest hack writer are brought brilliantly to life, sweeping cobwebs from the Bard – his language, his life, his world, his sounds, his craft. Crystal reveals man and work as relevant, accessible and alive – and, astonishingly, finds Shakespeare's own voice amid the poetry. Whether you're studying Shakespeare for the first time or you've never set foot near one of his plays but have always wanted to, this book smashes down the walls that have been built up around this untouchable literary figure. Told in five fascinating Acts, this is quick, easy and good for you. Just like beans on toast.


Book Synopsis Shakespeare on Toast by : Ben Crystal

Download or read book Shakespeare on Toast written by Ben Crystal and published by Icon Books Ltd. This book was released on 2015-12-24 with total page 195 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Actor, producer and director Ben Crystal revisits his acclaimed book on Shakespeare for the 400th anniversary of his death, updating and adding three new chapters. Shakespeare on Toast knocks the stuffing from the staid old myth of the Bard, revealing the man and his plays for what they really are: modern, thrilling, uplifting drama. The bright words and colourful characters of the greatest hack writer are brought brilliantly to life, sweeping cobwebs from the Bard – his language, his life, his world, his sounds, his craft. Crystal reveals man and work as relevant, accessible and alive – and, astonishingly, finds Shakespeare's own voice amid the poetry. Whether you're studying Shakespeare for the first time or you've never set foot near one of his plays but have always wanted to, this book smashes down the walls that have been built up around this untouchable literary figure. Told in five fascinating Acts, this is quick, easy and good for you. Just like beans on toast.

Playing Hamlet Roulette

Playing Hamlet Roulette

Author: Mark Jackson

Publisher:

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781941704141

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Drama. Literary Nonfiction. In the hit 2016 Shotgun Players production of Hamlet, seven actors learned all the roles. Each night, in front of the audience, they drew from Yorick's skull the characters they would play, then had five minutes to get ready before show time. PLAYING HAMLET ROULETTE explores what eventually emerged as the production's true subjects: failure, expectation, possibility, and democracy. In these pages, the production's director, actors, designers, and audience explore the wide ranging implications of these subjects both in and out of theatre. How might a critical consideration of creative experiences with failure expand our expectations of what is possible in our democratic societies? Theatre makers, goers, students, and teachers alike will enjoy the book for its exploration of rehearsal processes and of the impact theatre performances can have on audiences, as well as its uniquely poly-vocal analysis of Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. "A mind- bending new production... Refreshing... The actors' ability to pull off this Hamlet is simply awe-inspiring. And the format makes you examine your preconceptions of both the play and the nature of theater: All lines of gender, age and race will be crossed at some point."--San Francisco Chronicle "Uplifting and weirdly affecting... You immediately notice that there isn't a conventional Hamlet in the cast. They are a wonderfully eclectic bunch: men and women, a smattering of ages and races, even different acting styles... We are plunged into a democracy of infinite possibilities... A unique and rich response to the play... We should be thankful to witness such a circus of daring."--KQED.org "By opening up Hamlet to thousands of possible casting combinations, Jackson inevitably defies traditional assumptions about the gender, age and race of the play's well-known characters... This spontaneous diversity seizes upon the universality of Shakespeare's work in a way that many other productions fail to--fully revealing the kernels of common humanity within each character... An exhilarating journey, and one that manages to stoke the audience's appreciation for the very mechanics of theater while its powerhouse cast brings new vitality--and vigor--to a well-known play."--East Bay Express


Book Synopsis Playing Hamlet Roulette by : Mark Jackson

Download or read book Playing Hamlet Roulette written by Mark Jackson and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drama. Literary Nonfiction. In the hit 2016 Shotgun Players production of Hamlet, seven actors learned all the roles. Each night, in front of the audience, they drew from Yorick's skull the characters they would play, then had five minutes to get ready before show time. PLAYING HAMLET ROULETTE explores what eventually emerged as the production's true subjects: failure, expectation, possibility, and democracy. In these pages, the production's director, actors, designers, and audience explore the wide ranging implications of these subjects both in and out of theatre. How might a critical consideration of creative experiences with failure expand our expectations of what is possible in our democratic societies? Theatre makers, goers, students, and teachers alike will enjoy the book for its exploration of rehearsal processes and of the impact theatre performances can have on audiences, as well as its uniquely poly-vocal analysis of Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. "A mind- bending new production... Refreshing... The actors' ability to pull off this Hamlet is simply awe-inspiring. And the format makes you examine your preconceptions of both the play and the nature of theater: All lines of gender, age and race will be crossed at some point."--San Francisco Chronicle "Uplifting and weirdly affecting... You immediately notice that there isn't a conventional Hamlet in the cast. They are a wonderfully eclectic bunch: men and women, a smattering of ages and races, even different acting styles... We are plunged into a democracy of infinite possibilities... A unique and rich response to the play... We should be thankful to witness such a circus of daring."--KQED.org "By opening up Hamlet to thousands of possible casting combinations, Jackson inevitably defies traditional assumptions about the gender, age and race of the play's well-known characters... This spontaneous diversity seizes upon the universality of Shakespeare's work in a way that many other productions fail to--fully revealing the kernels of common humanity within each character... An exhilarating journey, and one that manages to stoke the audience's appreciation for the very mechanics of theater while its powerhouse cast brings new vitality--and vigor--to a well-known play."--East Bay Express

Shakespeare's Hamlet for Kids

Shakespeare's Hamlet for Kids

Author: Brendan P. Kelso

Publisher: Playing With Plays, LLC

Published: 2010-09-10

Total Pages: 103

ISBN-13: 1453641548

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Who will you be? Hamlet? Claudius? Ophelia? Rosencrantz or Guildenstern?! Hamlet like you have never experienced it before: quick, fun, and easy to understand. Designed for 6-20+ actors, kids, families, or anyone who wants to enjoy and perform Shakespeare's classic play. Hamlet for Kids is a play versatile enough for sibling fun, classes, drama groups, homeschool groups, or backyard performances. It's appropriate and fun for all ages! Plays range from 15 to 25 minutes. Which character will your kids be?! What you will get: Fun! 3 hilarious modifications for group sizes: -- 6-7+ -- 8-14+ -- 11-20+ Actual lines from Shakespeare's play highlighted for easy identification Creatively funny and witty telling of the remaining script A delightfully funny rendition that is easy for ADULTS to understand too! A kid who loves Shakespeare! This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to spark a love of Shakespeare. Shakespeare is difficult enough in class or watching onstage, let alone trying to teach the stories to children, but as the author's mantra states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun! "Kids who have read this have also eventually purchased the entire Shakespeare works, and have completed 'hero' reports on Shakespeare at school. Guaranteed to have you coming back for more!


Book Synopsis Shakespeare's Hamlet for Kids by : Brendan P. Kelso

Download or read book Shakespeare's Hamlet for Kids written by Brendan P. Kelso and published by Playing With Plays, LLC. This book was released on 2010-09-10 with total page 103 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Who will you be? Hamlet? Claudius? Ophelia? Rosencrantz or Guildenstern?! Hamlet like you have never experienced it before: quick, fun, and easy to understand. Designed for 6-20+ actors, kids, families, or anyone who wants to enjoy and perform Shakespeare's classic play. Hamlet for Kids is a play versatile enough for sibling fun, classes, drama groups, homeschool groups, or backyard performances. It's appropriate and fun for all ages! Plays range from 15 to 25 minutes. Which character will your kids be?! What you will get: Fun! 3 hilarious modifications for group sizes: -- 6-7+ -- 8-14+ -- 11-20+ Actual lines from Shakespeare's play highlighted for easy identification Creatively funny and witty telling of the remaining script A delightfully funny rendition that is easy for ADULTS to understand too! A kid who loves Shakespeare! This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to spark a love of Shakespeare. Shakespeare is difficult enough in class or watching onstage, let alone trying to teach the stories to children, but as the author's mantra states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun! "Kids who have read this have also eventually purchased the entire Shakespeare works, and have completed 'hero' reports on Shakespeare at school. Guaranteed to have you coming back for more!

The Masks of Hamlet

The Masks of Hamlet

Author: Marvin Rosenberg

Publisher: University of Delaware Press

Published: 1992

Total Pages: 1006

ISBN-13: 9780874134803

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Every reader is an actor according to Rosenberg. To prepare the actor-reader for insights, Rosenberg draws on major intepretations of the play worldwide, in theatre and in criticism, wherever possible from the first known performances to the present day. The book is rich and provocative on every question about the play.


Book Synopsis The Masks of Hamlet by : Marvin Rosenberg

Download or read book The Masks of Hamlet written by Marvin Rosenberg and published by University of Delaware Press. This book was released on 1992 with total page 1006 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Every reader is an actor according to Rosenberg. To prepare the actor-reader for insights, Rosenberg draws on major intepretations of the play worldwide, in theatre and in criticism, wherever possible from the first known performances to the present day. The book is rich and provocative on every question about the play.

Hamlet

Hamlet

Author: William Shakespeare

Publisher:

Published: 2019-12-04

Total Pages: 253

ISBN-13: 9781671630550

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A morbid tragedy about mortality, madness, and murder, Hamlet follows the eponymous Prince of Denmark as he plots to avenge his father's murder at the hands of Claudius, Hamlet's uncle and the current king, who married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. Haunted by a ghost and arguing with his girlfriend Ophelia, Hamlet struggles to take revenge, as delay and feigned insanity preoccupy him. Rounding out the cast are other famous figures, like Horatio, and Polonius, and of course, the Gravedigger, who finds the skull of "poor Yorick." Perhaps Shakespeare's most popular play, Hamlet.


Book Synopsis Hamlet by : William Shakespeare

Download or read book Hamlet written by William Shakespeare and published by . This book was released on 2019-12-04 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A morbid tragedy about mortality, madness, and murder, Hamlet follows the eponymous Prince of Denmark as he plots to avenge his father's murder at the hands of Claudius, Hamlet's uncle and the current king, who married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. Haunted by a ghost and arguing with his girlfriend Ophelia, Hamlet struggles to take revenge, as delay and feigned insanity preoccupy him. Rounding out the cast are other famous figures, like Horatio, and Polonius, and of course, the Gravedigger, who finds the skull of "poor Yorick." Perhaps Shakespeare's most popular play, Hamlet.

Hamlet’s Hereditary Queen

Hamlet’s Hereditary Queen

Author: Kerrie Roberts

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2022-12-30

Total Pages: 206

ISBN-13: 1000821358

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This book explores a fresh and insightful interpretation of Hamlet’s Gertrude as a prominent and powerful figure in the play. It shows how traditional readings of this character, both performance-based and scholarly, have been guided and constrained by misogynistic perspectives on female power. Bringing together the author’s wealth of insight from a theatre practitioner’s perspective and combining it with a scholarly perspective, the book argues that Gertrude need not be limited to sex and motherhood. She could instead be played as Denmark’s blood royal Queen, her role in the play then being about female political power. Gertrude’s royal status could play out on stage through a variety of possible performance choices for stage design, stage business, acting processes, and the actor’s presence – both speaking and silent. Hamlet's Hereditary Queen takes into consideration Shakespeare’s source myths, historical studies of the position of queens and the issues concerning them in early modern England, Hamlet’s performance history, and the text itself. It questions traditional readings of Hamlet, and offers detailed analyses of relevant scenes to demonstrate how Gertrude’s Hamlet might play out on stage in the twenty-first century. This is an engaging and insightful interpretation for students and scholars of theatre and performance studies and Shakespeare studies, as well as theatre practitioners.


Book Synopsis Hamlet’s Hereditary Queen by : Kerrie Roberts

Download or read book Hamlet’s Hereditary Queen written by Kerrie Roberts and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2022-12-30 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores a fresh and insightful interpretation of Hamlet’s Gertrude as a prominent and powerful figure in the play. It shows how traditional readings of this character, both performance-based and scholarly, have been guided and constrained by misogynistic perspectives on female power. Bringing together the author’s wealth of insight from a theatre practitioner’s perspective and combining it with a scholarly perspective, the book argues that Gertrude need not be limited to sex and motherhood. She could instead be played as Denmark’s blood royal Queen, her role in the play then being about female political power. Gertrude’s royal status could play out on stage through a variety of possible performance choices for stage design, stage business, acting processes, and the actor’s presence – both speaking and silent. Hamlet's Hereditary Queen takes into consideration Shakespeare’s source myths, historical studies of the position of queens and the issues concerning them in early modern England, Hamlet’s performance history, and the text itself. It questions traditional readings of Hamlet, and offers detailed analyses of relevant scenes to demonstrate how Gertrude’s Hamlet might play out on stage in the twenty-first century. This is an engaging and insightful interpretation for students and scholars of theatre and performance studies and Shakespeare studies, as well as theatre practitioners.

Women as Hamlet

Women as Hamlet

Author: Tony Howard

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2007-02-22

Total Pages: 315

ISBN-13: 0521864666

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A study of actresses playing the role of Hamlet on stage and screen.


Book Synopsis Women as Hamlet by : Tony Howard

Download or read book Women as Hamlet written by Tony Howard and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2007-02-22 with total page 315 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A study of actresses playing the role of Hamlet on stage and screen.

Hamlet

Hamlet

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 1836

Total Pages: 90

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Hamlet by :

Download or read book Hamlet written by and published by . This book was released on 1836 with total page 90 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: