Short description:

Thirty authoritative accounts describe in illuminating detail how some of theatre?s most talented directors have brought Shakespeare?s plays to the stage. These studies chart the extraordinary feats of interpretation behind some of the most acclaimed productions of the last hundred years.

Long description:

The Routledge Companion to Directors' Shakespeare is a major collaborative book about plays in performance. Thirty authoritative accounts describe in illuminating detail how some of theatre?s most talented directors have brought Shakespeare?s texts to the stage. Each chapter has a revealing story to tell as it explores a new and revitalising approach to the most familiar works in the English language.

A must-have work of reference for students of both Shakespeare and theatre, this book presents some of the most acclaimed productions of the last hundred years in a variety of cultural and political contexts. Each entry describes a director?s own theatrical vision, and methods of rehearsal and production. These studies chart the extraordinary feats of interpretation and innovation that have given Shakespeare?s plays enduring life in the theatre.

Notable entries include: Ingmar Bergman * Peter Brook * Declan Donnellan * Tyrone Guthrie * Peter Hall * Fritz Kortner * Robert Lepage * Joan Littlewood * Ninagawa Yukio * Joseph Papp * Roger Planchon * Max Reinhardt * Giorgio Strehler * Deborah Warner * Orson Welles * Franco Zeffirelli

'Bringing directorial labour into sharp focus, this long overdue volume represents a valuable contribution to theatre history. It not only heightens our understanding of the art and craft of directing Shakespeare but also enables a comprehensive overview of over a century of directorial practice. This is a book to be read, and reread: there are deep pleasures here.' - Barbara Hodgdon, University of Michigan, USA

'An invaluable resource for anyone interested in modern Shakespeare production. The breadth of coverage is one of its greatest assets. A major contribution to Shakespeare performance studies.' -  James Loehlin, University of Texas, USA

'Written by leading academics, this is a fascinating reference book for students and for the serious enthusiast. Its style is easily readable' ? Whatsonstage.com

Table of Contents:

Ingmar Bergman.  Rikard Loman  Peter Brook.  Maria Shevtsova  Glen Byam Shaw.  Nick Walton  Deguchi Norio.  Mika Eglington  Declan Donellan. Paul Prescott  Peter Gill. John Burgess  Harley Granville Barker.  Christopher McCullough  Tyrone Guthrie. Robert Shaughnessy  Peter Hall.  Peter Holland  Terry Hands. Peter Breen  Henry Irving. Russell Jackson  Fritz Kortner. Klaus Volkner  Michael Langham. Kevin Ewert  Robert Lepage. Karen Fricker  Joan Littlewood.  Lesley Wade  Ninagawa Yukio. Shoichiro Kawai  Trevor Nunn.  Martin White  Joseph Papp.  Pat Lennox  Iden Payne.  Frank Hildy  Roget Planchon.  Gerry McCarthy  William Poel.  Peter Thomson  Max Reinhardt.  Peter Marx  Barry Rutter.  Christian M. Billing  Mark Rylance.  Bridget Escolme  Peter Stein.  Michael Patterson  Giorgio Strehler. Donald McManus  Julie Taymor.  Douglas Lanier  Deborah Warner.  Carol Rutter  Orson Welles.  Matthew Smith  Peter Zadek.  Michael Raab  Franco Zeffirelli.  Tom Matheson