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Playing Shakespeare
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John Barton holds a master class in how to play Shakespeare, using members of the RSC doing scenes, sonnets, and commentary as prime examples.
Castfull cast & details
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01The Two TraditionsJuly 29, 1984—Contrasting Shakespeare's elevated language with modern naturalistic speech.
- S01E02Using the VerseAugust 5, 1984—John Barton and company examine blank verse. Its strengths and particularities are discussed in great detail. Members of the cast try out va
- S01E03Language and CharacterAugust 12, 1984—John Barton and the cast discuss how Shakespeare defines his character by the language they speak, and how the characters attempt to achieve
- S01E04Speeches and SoliloquiesAugust 19, 1984—John Barton and members of the RSC present a workshop on how Shakespeare used the soliloquy to directly connect the character with the audie
- S01E05Irony and AmbiguityAugust 26, 1984—John Barton and the RSC actors consider the subtle shadings produced by irony, ambiguity and sarcasm, and how best to express them.
- S01E06Passion and CoolnessSeptember 2, 1984—Hamlet's advice to the players is the best-known acting instruction in theatrical history. John Barton and the RSC actors explore this essen
- S01E07Rehearsing the TextSeptember 9, 1984—John Barton and the actors analyze a scene from Twelfth Night, identifying pointers towards character and staging.
- S01E08Exploring a CharacterSeptember 16, 1984—
- S01E09Poetry and Hidden PoetrySeptember 23, 1984—The bard's unparalleled poetry is celebrated and examined in its glory.