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A series of Shakespeare masterclasses filmed for television in 1982, featuring some of the finest actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company, including Judi Dench, Peggy Ashcroft, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Ben Kingsley and Sinead Cusack.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By RR Waller
TOP 500 REVIEWER
I first saw this programme by accident while studying Shakespeare and it was a revelation, seeing a different way of performing his plays with a much greater emphasis on the language. John Barton's 1982 series involved many of the names which now head cast lists - Judi Dench, Ben Kingsley, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, David Suchet, Donald Sinden - the list goes on.
When I accidentally saw the programme, the first actor I saw was Kevin Cline performing Hamlet's famous speech and he seemed to do it to perfection. Barton thought otherwise although everything he said was positive as he gave Cline fresh approaches to the familiar lines. The next performance was so different it amazed line and the assembled group. Barton does not look like someone who should be giving masterclasses, dressed as he usually is in an ill-fitting jumper, two sizes too big, with pockets used to carrying the complete works. He obviously does not care and, after a few minutes, viewers will not either.
It is recommended to anyone with a serious interest in reading or performing Shakespeare. It is not light viewing; the actors and Barton are seriously exploring ways to perform the plays, looking for sophisticated nuances and subtle differences in how to say these famous lines.
When I accidentally saw the programme, the first actor I saw was Kevin Cline performing Hamlet's famous speech and he seemed to do it to perfection. Barton thought otherwise although everything he said was positive as he gave Cline fresh approaches to the familiar lines. The next performance was so different it amazed line and the assembled group. Barton does not look like someone who should be giving masterclasses, dressed as he usually is in an ill-fitting jumper, two sizes too big, with pockets used to carrying the complete works. He obviously does not care and, after a few minutes, viewers will not either.
It is recommended to anyone with a serious interest in reading or performing Shakespeare. It is not light viewing; the actors and Barton are seriously exploring ways to perform the plays, looking for sophisticated nuances and subtle differences in how to say these famous lines.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By wacrompton
Love Shakespeare and you'll love this series. Although just occasionally John Barton
imposes his view on actors who (in my opinion) are easily capable of interpreting the text themselves. Barton is a Shakespeare afficionado extraordinaire and his work with the actors reveals and expresses every nuance and inflection of Shakespere's verse. His exposition of the King Lear speech, 'Blow winds, and crack your cheeks' finally makes the rant bearable. His examples of how gentleness compells more than going all-out on a text, are a relevation
Judy Dench is staggering and it is no mystery why she is the grande dame of UK theatre
today. But then so are Ian McKellan, David Suchet and Ben Kinsley. Their renditions
of the speeches are insightful, compelling, moving and memorable. Indeed all the actors in the Ensemble are outstanding. In the end I preferred listening to them than to Barton.
But you can't have one without the other.
Anyone who wants a dose of Shakespeare in depth should see this series. It is intelligent, insightful and marvellous to listen to and to watch. You will also come to realise just how serious, committed and hard-working these actors are. There is nothing diletante or superficial, they get to the heart of the speeches and peel back the verse to show every
possible interpretation of it.
imposes his view on actors who (in my opinion) are easily capable of interpreting the text themselves. Barton is a Shakespeare afficionado extraordinaire and his work with the actors reveals and expresses every nuance and inflection of Shakespere's verse. His exposition of the King Lear speech, 'Blow winds, and crack your cheeks' finally makes the rant bearable. His examples of how gentleness compells more than going all-out on a text, are a relevation
Judy Dench is staggering and it is no mystery why she is the grande dame of UK theatre
today. But then so are Ian McKellan, David Suchet and Ben Kinsley. Their renditions
of the speeches are insightful, compelling, moving and memorable. Indeed all the actors in the Ensemble are outstanding. In the end I preferred listening to them than to Barton.
But you can't have one without the other.
Anyone who wants a dose of Shakespeare in depth should see this series. It is intelligent, insightful and marvellous to listen to and to watch. You will also come to realise just how serious, committed and hard-working these actors are. There is nothing diletante or superficial, they get to the heart of the speeches and peel back the verse to show every
possible interpretation of it.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By PS
I have wanted to get hold of a copy of this fantastic series since 1982 when it was first broadcast and I am certainly not disappointed now that I have had the chance to watch it again. An absolute must for anyone studying or with an interest in Shakespeare. The enigmatic John Barton holds an acting masterclass with some of the finest young actors of the time - most of them have gone on to become huge names in both the theatre and on screen:- Judi Dench, Ben Kingsley, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, David Suchet, Donald Sinden - the list goes on.
Compulsive, compelling viewing - an utter classic TV series.
Compulsive, compelling viewing - an utter classic TV series.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By J. Noutch
Very, very happy with this. A friend had posted me a YouTube link to a clip from the series, and it had interested me because I am involved with quite a lot of drama at university.
With that in mind, the 9 episodes are all excellent tools for gaining a brilliant grounding for some difficult problems in acting. Actually seeing how professional (let alone legendary) actors and John Barton directing is much more illuminating than any book. At the same time, the episodes are lively, funny, interesting and arresting. I particularly enjoyed getting to know the different actors and their styles, and seeing them play off one another.
My only wish is that there were more of it! But worth every penny and it comes with my great recommendations.
With that in mind, the 9 episodes are all excellent tools for gaining a brilliant grounding for some difficult problems in acting. Actually seeing how professional (let alone legendary) actors and John Barton directing is much more illuminating than any book. At the same time, the episodes are lively, funny, interesting and arresting. I particularly enjoyed getting to know the different actors and their styles, and seeing them play off one another.
My only wish is that there were more of it! But worth every penny and it comes with my great recommendations.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
As this is a product review, I feel that I must mention the quality of the transfer. Admittedly, this was filmed for TV thirty years ago and so one can't expect the quality to be pristine, but a little digital remastering would have been nice, considering the importance of this series. There are no subtitles but lines are frequently shown on screen as spoken to illustrate a point, so the lack of subtitles is not too frustrating. Special features are limited to biographies. A making-of or retrospective documentary might have been nice but the material speaks for itself.
Playing Shakespeare is a collection of 9 filmed workshops at the RSC, led by co-founder John Barton. His disciples are all professional actors- you'll see many a famous face, from Patrick Stewart to Judi Dench to Peggy Ashcroft in the last episode.
The acting advice John Barton gives is simple but vital. The difference it makes in the quality of the performances of the actors is infinite. His focus on the text and the nuances of each word may seem unfashionable now when interpretation and subversion seem to be the main goal, yet it makes long, often dull speeches (like the Bishop of Canterbury's one in Henry V) seem exciting and accessible. Barton is very picky but the actors are always humble and even challenge him on some points, which he rightly accepts.
What I really love about the series, apart from some brilliant pieces of acting, as in the final scene of The Winter's Tale, is the metatheatrical quality of it. The filming emphasises the artificiality- we see mics swinging over, the cameras switching. The "set" is a ramshackle studio and the actors are often playing scenes to a rug. It's a mix of rehearsed reading and performing, all led by Barton, who is not a posturing luvvie.... Read more ›
Playing Shakespeare is a collection of 9 filmed workshops at the RSC, led by co-founder John Barton. His disciples are all professional actors- you'll see many a famous face, from Patrick Stewart to Judi Dench to Peggy Ashcroft in the last episode.
The acting advice John Barton gives is simple but vital. The difference it makes in the quality of the performances of the actors is infinite. His focus on the text and the nuances of each word may seem unfashionable now when interpretation and subversion seem to be the main goal, yet it makes long, often dull speeches (like the Bishop of Canterbury's one in Henry V) seem exciting and accessible. Barton is very picky but the actors are always humble and even challenge him on some points, which he rightly accepts.
What I really love about the series, apart from some brilliant pieces of acting, as in the final scene of The Winter's Tale, is the metatheatrical quality of it. The filming emphasises the artificiality- we see mics swinging over, the cameras switching. The "set" is a ramshackle studio and the actors are often playing scenes to a rug. It's a mix of rehearsed reading and performing, all led by Barton, who is not a posturing luvvie.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Even better than expected
I was preparing a monologue from the Merchant of Venice as an assignment for the theatre course i'm attending at the moment. Read more
Published 18 months ago by daniela quaglia
4.0 out of 5 stars
rapid delivery, right products.
I have bought this videos for someone else, so I cannot give opinion on the videos itself. But I can tell the order came very quickly and it was exactly what I ordered.
Published 22 months ago by santa
5.0 out of 5 stars
PERFECT FOR THE NEW/ OLD SHAKESPEARE ACTOR
THIS IS A MUST HAVE FOR ANYONE WHO HAS WONDERD ABOUT HOW SHAKESPEARE SHOULD AND COULD BE PERFFORMED. YET IT ISN'T STUFFY ACADEMIC VIEW, DESPITE IT'S AGE. Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2010 by C.ZIG
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great resource
This isn't much of a review, but if anyones unsure whether or not to buy this i'd like to recommend it. Read more
Published on 18 Aug 2010 by Garethgazz
5.0 out of 5 stars
At last - Barton's Shakespeare Sessions with a new title!
For a decade I have longed for a copy of John Barton's Shakespeare Sessions, from the early eighties, but the sellers of the VHS and early DVD sets want many pounds for their... Read more
Published on 22 July 2010 by Graeme Withers
5.0 out of 5 stars
An educating entertainment!
I was really excited to see this was available after all this time. Aside from being a real education in the language and performance of Shakespeare, it's great to see all these... Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2010 by Outsiderny
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