Royal Shakespeare Company

An astounding achievement, even sixty years later. A great shame that this book is so very rare, as this is without doubt one of the landmark Shakespearean productions of the 20th century complete with valuable and insightful essays.

At the same time, it was a product of the moment. Companies since then have found their own ways to produce these plays, and perhaps there is as little willingness now as there was prior to this production for writers and directors to create their own show more Frankenspeare, even for sometimes difficult texts such as these early plays.

For those of us who love our theatre history, however? Sheer glory. show less

The Plantagenets takes Shakespeare's history cycle and turns it into a vivid, enthralling story of the brutal struggle for the English crown. The plays depict Henry's attempt to survive against the evil, bustling genius of Richard III in the midst of the violent upheaval of the Wars of the Roses. This volume also contains an Introduction by the director of the cycle, Adrian Nobel.

For anyone who wants to understand how Shakespeare should be interpreted on stage

It will change your life.