Acting Shakespeare's Language - (Actor's Toolkit) by Andy Hinds (Paperback)

About the Book

A concise and accessible new handbook to acting Shakespeare's texts, full of simple exercises and practical guidelines.

Book Synopsis

In this inspirational new manual, Andy Hinds shares what he has learnt over thirty years of teaching the speaking and acting of Shakespeare's texts. In simple steps he brings the reader to a full understanding of how Shakespeare's language 'works', lucidly outlines a number of practical guidelines, and provides simple, test-proven exercises to put each guideline into practice.

Key points include:

Acting Solo Speeches Pronunciation Imagery and imagistic language Acting Shakespeare's Verse Acting Shakespeare's Prose Breathing

The essential guide for all actors, students, teachers or directors tackling Shakespeare's plays or speeches and wishing to release the full dramatic power of his words.

Review Quotes

"It is to this book's enormous credit that it focuses in depth on the nuts and bolts of getting lips and heads around the intricacies of verse-speaking without either shirking the difficulties or becoming stilted and dull... I wish I'd had this book when I was acting - I'm delighted to have encountered it as a teacher." --Teaching Drama

"Even highly experienced and knowledgeable readers will encounter new ideas or practices throughout the entirety of the book... a major practical tool for actors, directors, students, teachers and Shakespeare aficionados... this book could be considered a primary source of knowledge and practice in Shakespearean performance. Highly recommended." --Marc Silberschatz, Scottish Journal of Performance

"Andy Hinds offers a rich and detailed path towards a precise contact with the challenge of speaking and inhabiting Shakespeare's language. This book is an immensely useful resource for anyone teaching, speaking and acting Shakespeare." --Ralph Fiennes

"Brilliantly practical and precise in exploring the ways students/actors (young and old) can get to grips with the extraordinary language of Shakespeare in a real way." --Ciaran Hinds, Actor

"The complete "Acting Shakespeare" toolkit. Ideal for any actor or student preparing speeches for auditions." --Joely Richardson, Actor

""Acting Shakespeare's Language" is having your own personal acting coach at your fingertips. This book is an essential." --Kenneth Noel Mitchell, Tisch School of the Arts at NYU

"This is an immensely useful book." --Geoff Bullen, Associate Director at RADA

"Ideal for lone study, for coaching one to one, or teaching in a class or group." --Colm Hefferon, Lecturer in Drama Education at Dublin City University

"Especially interesting on the shifts in language in Shakespeare's plays and what they signify...an accessible, thorough book" --Susan Elkin, The Stage

About the Author

Derry born Andy Hinds has, for many years, been a theatre director, playwright and acting teacher. He is currently Artistic Director of Classic Stage Ireland. Andy has an ongoing association with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London where for many years he taught, 'Acting Shakespeare' and directed their classic productions. Also for RADA he created and taught their 3-month 'International Acting Shakespeare Course' for professional actors, directors and academics. He recently conducted a series of Masterclasses in 'Acting Shakespeare' at Shakespeare's Globe in London.