Synopses & Reviews
"Exquisite... enthralling... This short, modest and brilliant book does more than many more grandiose tomes to renew the readers fascination with the plays, and the theatre-goers wonder at the extraordinary and diverse sensations locked up inside the First Folio. It should be required reading at all universities and drama clubs." Robert McCrum,
Guardian"Contains within its scintillating reflections the essence of all that Peter Brook has learned over a lifetime. Whoever imagined that a book about Shakespeare could also be such fun?" John Heilpern, Wall Street Journal
"This volume positively seethes and sparkles with ideas... provides not only acute insights into the texts, but intriguing details of performance history, and a few morsels of grand theatrical gossip." Stuart Kelly, Scotsman
"If you want a gift for an actor, look no further than this educative, engrossing, entertaining book." -The Stage
In The Quality of Mercy, one of the worlds most revered theatre directors reflects on a fascinating variety of Shakespearean topics. In this sequence of essaysall but one published here for the first timePeter Brook debates such questions as who was the man who wrote Shakespeares plays, why Shakespeare is never out of date, and how actors should approach Shakespeares verse. He also revisits some of the plays which he has directed with notable brilliance, such as King Lear, Titus Andronicus and, of course, A Midsummer Nights Dream. Taken as a whole, this short but immensely wise book offers an illuminating and provocative insight into a great directors relationship with our greatest playwright.
"An invaluable gift from the greatest Shakespeare director of our time... Brooks genius, modesty, and brilliance shine through on every page." James Shapiro, author of 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare and Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare?
PETER BROOK is one of the worlds best-known theatre directors. Outstanding in a career full of remarkable achievements are his productions of Titus Andronicus (1955) with Laurence Olivier, King Lear (1962) with Paul Scofield, and The Marat/Sade (1964) and A Midsummer Nights Dream (1970), both for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Since moving to Paris and establishing the Centre International de Créations Théâtrales at the Bouffes du Nord, he has produced a series of events which push at the boundaries of theatre, such as The Conference of Birds (1976), The Ik (1975), The Mahabharata (1985) and The Tragedy of Hamlet (2000). His films include Lord of the Flies (1963), King Lear (1970) and The Mahabharata (1989). His books, especially The Empty Space (1968), have been hugely influential.
Synopsis
One of the world's most revered theatre directors reflects on the worlds most revered playwright.
Synopsis
"Exquisite . . . enthralling . . . The Quality of Mercy should be required reading at all universities and drama clubs."The Guardian
"Contains within its scintillating reflections the essence of all that Peter Brook has learned over a lifetime. Whoever imagined that a book about Shakespeare could also be such fun?"The Wall Street Journal
"If you want a gift for an actor, look no further than this educative, engrossing, entertaining book."The Stage
In this sequence of essaysall but one published here for the first timePeter Brook explores a series of debates, including who was the man that wrote William Shakespeare's plays, why Shakespeare is never out of date, and how actors should approach the Bard's verse. The esteemed director also revisits some his most notable productions, including King Lear with Paul Scofield and Titus Andronicus with Laurence Olivier.
Peter Brook's outstanding career includes his remarkable productions of The Marat/Sade (1964) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (1970), both for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Founder of the Centre International de Creations Theatrales at the Bouffes du Nord in Paris, he has produced a series of events which push at the boundaries of theater, such as The Conference of Birds (1976), The Ilk (1975), The Mahabharata (1985), and The Tragedy of Hamlet (2000). His films include Lord of the Flies (1963), King Lear (1970), and The Mahabharata (1989). His books, especially The Empty Space, have been hugely influential.
About the Author
Peter Brook is one of the worlds best-known theatre directors. Outstanding in a career full of remarkable achievements are his productions of Titus Andronicus (1955) with Laurence Olivier, King Lear (1962) with Paul Scofield, and The Marat/Sade (1964) and A Midsummer Nights Dream (1970), both for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Since moving to Paris and establishing the Centre International de Créations Théâtrales at the Bouffes du Nord, he has produced a series of events which push at the boundaries of theatre, such as The Conference of Birds (1976), The Ik (1975), The Mahabharata (1985) and The Tragedy of Hamlet (2000). His films include Lord of the Flies (1963), King Lear (1970) and The Mahabharata (1989). His books, especially The Empty Space (1968), have been hugely influential.