Shakespeare and Brecht : A Practical Guide for Actors, Directors, Students and Teachers

This practical guide uncovers the roots of Brecht’s lifelong obsession with Shakespeare and makes the case for reading the two together today. By connecting these two great playwrights, Stephen Unwin imagines new possibilities for Brechtian productions of Shakespeare and outlines practical suggestions for how to stage such productions. Drawing on directing and performance experience in over 60 productions, Unwin’s knowledge of Brecht provides students, teachers, and practitioners with practical exercises for use in the classroom and rehearsal room. The book charts a chronology of Brecht’s engagement with Shakespeare before delving into his core theories and practices which detail a Brechtian approach to reading, performing and staging Shakespeare that is still pertinent today. Unwin also provides an in-depth look at five of Shakespeare’s plays through Brecht’s own words and imagines a Brechtian staging for them. In simple, non-theoretical language Shakespeare and Brecht reveals how Brecht can help us understand Shakespeare, but also how an understanding of Shakespeare can help explain Brecht for a new chapter of Brechtian Shakespeare in the 21st century.

Stephen Unwin founded English Touring Theatre in 1993 and opened the Rose Theatre, Kingston in 2008. He has directed over 60 professional productions, including ten plays by Shakespeare and three by Brecht. His books include A Guide to the Plays of Bertolt Brecht, The Complete Brecht Toolkit, The Pocket Guide to Shakespeare's Plays and Poor Naked Wretches: Shakespeare's Working People.

Michael Dobson is an award-winning game designer and co-author of Fox on the Rhine and Fox at the Front. He served as a member of the team that built the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.

Abigail Rokison-Woodall is Professor in Shakespeare and Theatre, The Shakespeare Institute, Stratford upon Avon, UK and was formerly a professional actor.

Sir Simon Russell Beale is the leading Shakespearean actor of his generation, having played King Lear, Hamlet, Macbeth, Malvolio, Timon of Athens, Benedick, Falstaff, Prospero and Richard II.