Performing Arts Subject Guide

Macbeth by Roman Polanski Originally released as a motion picture, c. 1971.

King Richard III: The War of the Roses by English Shakespeare Company Modern adaptation. Final episode of the documentary series 'War of the Roses'.

A Midsummer night's dream : Shakespeare retold A modern adaptation. Set during a weekend in a holiday park, this is a romantic comedy about four warring couples, a donkey's head and a gaggle of fairies.

Discovering Hamlet by Sir Derek Jacobi, Kenneth Branagh A documentary by Jacobi which follows Kenneth Branagh and the Renaissance Theatre Company from rehersals to opening night.

Playing Shakespeare by John Barton 9 master classes with the Royal Shakespeare Company and 21 renown actors. Includes a history of the company, John Barton biography, a glossary for playing Shakespeare, picture gallery.

Acting in Shakespearean Comedy by Janet Suzman Workshop snippets from 'Much Ado', 'As you like it', and 'Twelfth Night'

An Obsession with Hamlet by John Bell Bell Shakespeare Company's production of Hamlet, from first rehearsal to opening night.

Stage, Stake, and Scaffold by Andreas Höfele Hofele argues that Shakespearean notions of humanity rely just as much on inclusion as on exclusion of the animal. Humans and animals face each other across the species divide, but the divide proves highly permeable.

The Unnatural Scene by Michael Long Long discusses the idea of a conflict between nature and social structure in Shakespeare's work

Ours As We Play It: Australia plays Shakespeare by Kate Flaherty Looks at contemporary Shakespeare performances in Australia, specifically 'Hamlet', 'As You Like It' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

Being Shakespeare 109 mins. Featuring a tour de force performance from Simon Callow, Being Shakespeare is a one-man show about the life and work of the world’s greatest playwright. Written by the renowned scholar Jonathan Bate, and taking its cue from Jacques’ famous ‘Seven Ages of Man’ speech in As You Like It, the drama traces Shakespeare’s life from his birth in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 to his burial there fifty-two years later. Weaving together this story with extracts from many of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Simon Callow presents a vivid and very human portrait of the man and of the Elizabethan world in which he lived. Recorded before an audience during the play’s triumphant London run, Being Shakespeare is both a wonderful introduction to the author and a richly nuanced, funny and fascinating study for those who already love his plays. Extras include an exclusive interview with Simon Callow and performances of a personal selection of Shakespeare’s Sonnets.