Category Archives: Shakespeare on Stage

Shakespeare on film and TV

In the past few weeks there have been several developments relating to Shakespeare on film and TV. On 26 January 2014 a programme entitled The Stuff of Dreams begins, run by the Institute of Psychoanalysis.  Once a month there will … Continue reading

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Shakespeare and China

Shakespeare and China was taken as the subject for this month’s meeting of the Shakespeare Club, at which the speaker was the President of the Club, Professor Michael Dobson, Head of the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon. He began by talking … Continue reading

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The Tempest in our time and its own

A great authority on Shakespeare, the academic Anne Barton, died a few days ago. She always wrote with an awareness of the play as a piece of theatre and her thoughts were often reflected in her husband, John Barton’s productions.  … Continue reading

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The last of the actor-managers taking Shakespeare on tour: Donald Wolfit

Until relatively recently theatrical companies in England were run by actor-managers who performed with their own companies in London, at theatres in the regions, and abroad. According to Hesketh Pearson, in his book The Last Actor-Managers, “most of them won their … Continue reading

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Ian Richardson and Richard II’s ring

On Friday morning BBC Radio 4’s Today programme included a feature about theatre history relating to David Tennant’s current role as Richard II. On the press night Tennant received a package from Ian Richardson’s widow Maroussia Frank containing the ring … Continue reading

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“Far more fair than black”: Cleopatra, Othello and blacks in Renaissance England

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s new production of Antony and Cleopatra will, for the first time in its history, feature a black actress, Joaquina Kalukango, as Cleopatra. It’s a co-production between the RSC, the Public Theatre, New York and Gablestage, Miami, … Continue reading

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Richard II at the RSC

The RSC’s Richard II is onstage at last, and I’ve got to one of the performances. I’ve seen quite a few past productions of the play onstage, some extremely memorable. Like Hamlet, it’s often judged by its central performance, but … Continue reading

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Shakespeare and the National Theatre

On 15 October it was announced that Rufus Norris was to be appointed to the most important job in UK theatre, as Artistic Director of the National Theatre, taking over in April 2015. Then next week, on 22nd October the … Continue reading

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If music and sweet poetry agree: Stratford-upon-Avon’s Festival

On Saturday morning Stratford-upon-Avon’s Music Festival began with a Festival Fanfare entitled Lend Me Your Ears, played by the brass ensemble from King Edward VI School. Performed on the steps of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre it was a reminder of … Continue reading

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Celebrating Stage Management Day

Rather late in the day I heard that 10 October 2013 is being celebrated as the first Stage Management Day. Stage managers are some of the unsung heroes of the theatre world, people who the audience rarely sees, but who … Continue reading

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