An extensive history of The Royal Shakespeare Company's studio
theatre, Studio Shakespeare: The Royal Shakespeare Company at The
Other Place also includes a biography of its founder and first
artistic director, Mary Ann 'Buzz' Goodbody (1947-75). Alycia
Smith-Howard reveals how, as a socialist, feminist, and the RSC's
first female director, Goodbody sought to invigorate classical
theatre and its approach to producing the works of Shakespeare. The
Other Place, which opened its doors in 1973, was her greatest
achievement, and was, in the words of Ron Daniels of the American
Repertory Theatre, 'a training ground for an entire generation of
Shakespeare actors and directors'. The volume examines Shakespeare
productions at The Other Place from 1973 to its closure in 1989.
The author's sources include Goodbody's 'Mission Statement' for the
studio theatre as well as other previously unavailable materials
such as Goodbody's private papers, journal entries, director's
notes and correspondence. In addition, it contains interviews and
commentary from such theatrical luminaries as Judi Dench, Ian
McKellen, Ben Kingsley, Cicely Berry, Trevor Nunn, Peter Hall,
Patrick Stewart, and many others. Smith-Howard's narrative
discusses productions of twelve plays at The Other Place, among
them King Lear (1974), Hamlet (1975), The Merchant of Venice
(1978), Antony and Cleopatra (1982), King John (1988) and Othello
(1989). The cast lists of productions at The Other Place are
included in an appendix. Smith-Howard's study captures the spirit
and ethos of an important and radical exercise in theatre which
influenced the mainstream work of The Royal Shakespeare Company. It
is a lucid, compelling and valuable contribution not only to
Shakespeare studies but also to theatre history. This book, as
directors once said, 'has legs'.
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