On Shakespeare

Did Shakespeare really write all those plays? Why do actors do Shakespeare in modern dress? How does one prepare a role? What's it like doing a long run? Did Shakespeare believe in ghosts? Was he a subversive? Every day after every performance around the world, theatergoers ask these sorts of questions. Here, a man who thinks, breathes, and interprets Shakespeare's canon every day of his life gives his responses to these questions based on experience and reflection. After many years of reading, performing, and directing Shakespeare in the UK and in Australia with the Bell Shakespeare Company, John Bell offers a unique view of the histories, tragedies, comedies, and romances, and a memorable insight into the sonnets. His passionate relationship with Shakespeare informs and deepens our understanding of the man and his works. Vivid, accessible, and fascinating, this is a book that confirms Shakespeare's enduring relevance to our lives.

John Bell is an actor, director, and producer, and one of Australia's theatrical icons. The founder of the Bell Shakespeare Company, he is Australia's leading authority on interpreting, directing, and performing Shakespeare.