Overview

Peter Hall is one of the most significant and influential directors of Shakespeare’s work of modern times. Through both his own work and the management of two national theatre companies, the National Theatre and the RSC, Hall has promoted Shakespeare as a writer who can comment incisively on the modern world. His best productions exemplified this approach: Coriolanus (1959), The Wars of the Roses (1963) and Hamlet (1965) established his reputation as a director able to bring Shakespeare to the heart of contemporary politics. However, Hall’s career has been very varied, and sometimes his critical failures are as interesting as his successes. The book explores Hall’s work as a deliberate articulation of Shakespeare and national culture in the post-war years. The main focus is on his Shakespeare work, but critical attention is also given to non-Shakespearean productions, notably his 1955 Waiting for Godot (and his relationship with Samuel Beckett in general) and his 2000 Tantalus (and his work with John Barton), placing Hall’s work in its cultural and creative context. Setting Hall's work against the post-war development of national culture, the book explores how his work with other writers and artists (including Beckett, Pinter and Barton) informed his approach to directing as well as his rehearsal methods and his approach to Shakespeare’s text.

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9781472587084

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Reviews

An ambitious and highly readable survey which draws on detailed archival research to provide insights into Hall's artistic approach, documenting casting choices and examining Hall's rehearsal process, staging decisions, and use of design and costuming, as well as the reception of each production. * Theatre Notebook * This fascinating and richly detailed study of the Shakespeare productions of one of the greatest theatre directors of recent times excels at placing them within their social and political context. -- Sir Stanley Wells, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, UK

Author Information

Stuart Hampton Reeves is Professor of Research-informed Teaching at the University of Central Lancashire, UK

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