Peter Hall (1930-2017) is one of the most influential directors of Shakespeare's plays in the modern age. Under his direction, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre rediscovered Shakespeare as a writer who could comment incisively on the modern world. Productions such as Coriolanus, The Wars of the Roses and Hamlet established his reputation as a director able to bring Shakespeare to the heart of contemporary politics. He later cemented his reputation with epic productions of Coriolanus and Antony and Cleopatra at the National. With the Peter Hall Company, Hall continued to work intensively on Shakespeare, directing plays in the UK and America.Reviewing Hall's work in its cultural and creative context, this study explores his approach to directing and rehearsal. This is the first book to analyse all of Hall's professional Shakespeare productions in a historical context, from the Suez crisis to the 9/11 attacks and beyond.

AcknowledgementsSeries PrefaceIntroduction: Speaking Shakespeare1: Nostalgia and Politics at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre2: Nation, Culture and Authority at the Royal Shakespeare Company3: Authority in Crisis at the National Theatre4: Protest and Politics at the National Theatre5: Death and Sexuality after the National Theatre6: Playing Shakespeare in America7: National StagesList of ProductionsReferencesIndex