Shakespeare
The Man Who Pays the Rent
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Shakespeare
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Narrated by:
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Brendan O’Hea
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Barbara Flynn
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Judi Dench
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By:
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Judi Dench
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
Discover the work of the greatest writer in the English language as you've never encountered it before by pre-ordering internationally renowned actor Dame Judi Dench's SHAKESPEARE: The Man Who Pays The Rent - a witty, insightful journey through the plays and tales of our beloved Shakespeare
Read by Barbara Flynn (Open All Hours, The Durrels) and the book’s co-author Brendan O’Hea. Also featuring a warm and witty exclusive bonus conversation between Dame Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea about the making of the book.
Taking a curtain call with a live snake in her wig...
Cavorting naked through the Warwickshire countryside painted green...
Acting opposite a child with a pumpkin on his head...
These are just a few of the things Dame Judi Dench has done in the name of Shakespeare.
For the very first time, Judi opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played throughout her seven-decade career, from Lady Macbeth and Titania to Ophelia and Cleopatra. In a series of intimate conversations with actor & director Brendan O'Hea, she guides us through Shakespeare's plays with incisive clarity, revealing the secrets of her rehearsal process and inviting us to share in her triumphs, disasters, and backstage shenanigans.
Interspersed with vignettes on audiences, critics, company spirit and rehearsal room etiquette, she serves up priceless revelations on everything from the craft of speaking in verse to her personal interpretations of some of Shakespeare's most famous scenes, all brightened by her mischievous sense of humour, striking level of honesty and a peppering of hilarious anecdotes, many of which have remained under lock and key until now.
Instructive and witty, provocative and inspiring, this is ultimately Judi's love letter to Shakespeare, or rather, The Man Who Pays The Rent.
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Critic reviews
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What listeners say about Shakespeare
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- A S Ravenscroft
- 24-01-24
Enchanting
Illuminating, witty, utterly delightful insights into why Shakespeare is such a wonderful writer and Judi Dench such an amazing actor. She and Brendan are clearly very close friends and very funny too.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Penny
- 08-07-24
Funny and delightful!
Judi Dench! What an inspiration. Why oh why are we not exposed to Shakespeare like this from the start. I was forced to read a play at school, which put me off no end. They were meant to be watched, not read, but Judi, you make it come alive. It made me tingle and giggle. Thank you and Brendon for a wonderful listen.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Friend of Felix
- 28-10-23
Fantastic listen
I loved this so much. Informative and amusing at the same time. If you are interested in Shakespeare, Judi Dench’s career or the theatre more generally you should listen.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 10-11-23
Fab book
Entertaining & informative. Never previously got to grips with Shakespeare but hearing Judi discuss her experience and understanding of the language, characters and narratives, is completely absorbing. Brilliantly delivered by Barbara.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Leigh H
- 24-01-24
Pure Perfection
An absolute delight. Informative, warm and humorous. Barbara Flynn makes a convincing Judy Dench and Brendan O’Hea’s questions and comments are infused with such warmth and regard for Judy. I love the Epilogue in which Brendan and the real Judy are in conversation. My love for and understanding of Shakespeare has reached new heights thanks to this most brilliant book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Emma Ranshaw
- 26-05-24
interesting, insightful and so very funny!
There's something so captivating about Judi Dench somehow. She has this feeling of elegant grandiour and quiet intelligence on the surface - and she is all of those things - but once she gets comfortable she comes to life and you come to see she's a lovable chaotic prankster who's more in touch with her childishness than any of the kids I've had the pleasure of working with.
Plus every so often, she'll drop an F-bomb and it never fails to shock and amaze lol
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Andrea
- 11-09-24
Pure Joy
This book should be on a mandatory literature list in every acting school! It's just extrodinary!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tom Watson
- 01-11-23
This is a lovely book
Dame Judi made her professional debut in 1957 at the Old Vic theatre, quickly establishing herself in formidable roles like Ophelia in Hamlet and Desdemona in Othello. In seven decades of playing roles on stage and screen she speaks of Shakespeare’s characters like lifetime friends. And her acting anecdotes are touching, witty and laced with deep love for her craft. I can’t recommend this book enough.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- SimSch
- 28-11-23
Brilliant, engaging, funny, touching.
Loved the conversational premise. When you hear Judy as opposed to the voice actor, it's astounding how magnificent she sounds. What a talent. Loved the podcast ending. A lovely, kind and highly entertaining listen.
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- Muriel
- 30-11-23
What I didn’t know about Shakespeare’s plays
Dame Judi has a sensible and delightful view of life. This book has told me so much about Shakespeare. After a disastrous 2 years of Macbeth lessons at school and failing Eng Lit GCE I was not enamoured by this man and subsequently basically ignored him. Now, nearly 70 years later, after hearing this I want to see all of his plays. My time may run out before I catch them all but I will try.
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