Speaking The Speech: An Actor’s Guide To Shakespeare
£12.00£14.20 (-15%)
Why does Shakespeare write in the way he does? And how can actors and directors get the most out of his incomparable plays? In Speaking the Speech, Giles Block – ‘Master of the Words’ at Shakespeare’s Globe – sets out to answer these two simple questions. The result is the most authoritative, most comprehensive book yet written on speaking Shakespeare’s words.
Throughout the book, the author subjects Shakespeare’s language to rigorous examination, illuminating his extraordinary ability to bring his characters to life by a simple turn of phrase, a breath or even a pause. Block shows how we can only fully understand these characters, and the meaning of the plays, by speaking the words out loud.
Drawing on characters from across all of Shakespeare’s plays – and looking in detail at Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale, Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing – Block covers everything the actor needs to know, including: the essential distinctions between prose, rhymed verse and unrhymed verse, and the different strategies to be used when speaking them; the difference between you and thou; Shakespeare’s use of silence; and the vital importance of paying attention to Shakespeare’s original punctuation.
Speaking the Speech is a book for actors and directors who want to improve their understanding of Shakespeare’s language in order to speak it better. It is also a fascinating read for anyone who wants to deepen their appreciation of Shakespeare’s language and the way it comes to life when spoken aloud.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Nick Hern Books (16 May 2013) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 352 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1848421915 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1848421912 |
| Dimensions | 15.49 x 2.03 x 23.11 cm |
by Mrs
Bought this for my student daughter for Christmas and she not only loved it, she found it useful too. Brilliant!
by Sarah Sterling
Giles Block knows a thing or two about William Shakespeare. He has been both actor and director of Shakespeare’s plays for many decades. Block was appointed ‘Master of the Words’ at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, and he has worked there since 1999. This book is a must for every actor who strives to ignite the emotion and intent of the characters using Shakespeare’s words. By showing the essential distinctions between prose, and rhymed /unrhymed verse; the difference between ‘you’ and ‘thou’ and strategies to be used when speaking them, Block helps the actor understand how to best tell the story using the Bard of Avon’s exquisite use of the English language. He gives the reader a deeper appreciation of how Shakespeare’s writing comes to life when spoken out loud.
by Zoe
You don’t know Shakespeare until you’ve read this. It reveals all the secrets to speaking Shakespeare and understanding the meaning behind the text
by Sam Jackson
Fab-u-lous!!!