The Routledge Companion to Actors' Shakespeare is a window onto how today's actors contribute to the continuing life and relevance of Shakespeare's plays. The process of acting is notoriously hard to document, but this volume reaches behind famous performances to examine the actors' craft, their development and how they engage with playtexts. Each chapter relies upon privilieged access to its subject to offer an unparalleled insight into contemporary practice. This volume explores the techniques, interpretive approaches and performance styles of the following actors:Simon Russell Beale, Sinead Cusack, Judi Dench, Kate Duchene, Colm Feore, Mariah Gale, John Harrell, Greg Hicks, Rory Kinnear, Kevin Kline, Adrian Lester, Marcelo Magni, Ian McKellen, Patrice Naiambana, Vanessa Redgrave, Piotr Semak, Anthony Sher, Jonathan Slinger, Kate Valk, Harriet WalterThis twin volume to The Routledge Companion to Directors' Shakespeare is an essential work for both actors and students of Shakespeare.

1. Simon Russell Beale - Carol Rutter 2. Sinead Cusak - Andrew Hartley 3. Judi Dench - Stanley Wells 4. Kate Duchene - James Loehlin 5. Colm Feore - Kevin Ewert 6. Mariah Gale - Claire Smout 7. John Harrell - Jeremy Lopez 8. Greg Hicks - Ben Naylor 9. Rory Kinnear - Paul Prescott 10. Kevin Kline - Donald McManus 11. Adrian Lester - Jonathan Holmes 12. Ian McKellen - Peter Holland 13. Marcello Magni - Stephen Purcell 14. Patrice Naiambana - Darren Tunstall 15. Vanessa Redgrave - John Deeney 16. Antony Sher - Martin White 17. Petr Semak - Maria Shevtsova 18. Jonathan Slinger - Phillip Breen 19. Kate Valk - David Pelligrini 20. Harriet Walter - Paul Edmondson