
Shakespeare in the Theatre: Peter Hall
Peter Hall
Stuart Hampton-Reeves(Author)
The Arden Shakespeare (Publisher)
Published on 20. May 2021
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-1-4725-8708-4 (ISBN)
Description
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.
Reviews / Votes
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, UKMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 199 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
229 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4725-8708-4 (9781472587084)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Stuart Hampton-Reeves
Shakespeare in the Theatre: Peter Hall
E-Book
05/2019
1st Edition
The Arden Shakespeare
€26.49
Available for download

Stuart Hampton-Reeves
Shakespeare in the Theatre: Peter Hall
E-Book
05/2019
1st Edition
The Arden Shakespeare
€26.49
Available for download
Person
Stuart Hampton Reeves is Professor of Research-informed Teaching at the University of Central Lancashire, UK
Content
Series Preface;
Chapter One: Peter Hall and Shakespeare;
Chapter Two: Early Work;
Chapter Three: The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre;
Chapter Four: The Royal Shakespeare Company;
Chapter Five: The National Theatre;
Chapter Six: The Peter Hall Company;
Notes;
Bibliography;
Index
Chapter One: Peter Hall and Shakespeare;
Chapter Two: Early Work;
Chapter Three: The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre;
Chapter Four: The Royal Shakespeare Company;
Chapter Five: The National Theatre;
Chapter Six: The Peter Hall Company;
Notes;
Bibliography;
Index