Peter Hall on Shakespeare

Quote of the month: “Speaking Shakespeare’s verse and prose is an easily learned technique. It takes about three days for an actor to familiarise himself with what he has to look for, and it takes a few weeks more for him to become comfortable in the technique. Shakespeare tells the actor when to go fast and when to go slow; when to come in on cue, and when to accent a particular word or series of words. He tells the actor much else; and he always tells him when to do it (provided the actor knows where to look). But he never tells him why.” (Peter Hall’s Shakespeare’s Advice to the Players)

book Peter Hall playwriting RSC Shakespeare Shakespeare’s Advice to the Players verse drama William Shakespeare