My Shakespeare by Greg Doran - Parts 1 to 3

 

The back cover of this book tells us that Greg Doran stepped down as Artistic Director of Royal Shakespeare Company in 2022. During his time there he directed and/or produced every play in Shakespeare's First Folio. Each play has it's own chapter as Greg tells us about his interpretation of the text, what he brings to rehearsals, and the occasional anecdote. 

I decided for the purposes of this review to look at a few of the plays for each post. Here are the first three.

Part 1   Romeo and Juliet - A Prologue

I did wonder reading this first chapter whether he had saved the best for the beginning of the book. It's the first day of rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet. It starts with a detailed explanation of the prologue. And I mean detailed over four pages. For example, he takes this one line "and the continuance of their parent's rage". Apparently the third word is the longest in this fourteen line sonnet and Greg tells us why it had to be. 

We hear all about Greg's time at Bristol University to study English and Drama, but spending most of his time there performing plays including Goldoni's A Servant of Two Masters. (This is the play that was adapted to become One Man, Two Guvnor's with James Corden see my post 29th September 2011). Greg knew already that he wanted to direct, but to find out first what it was like to act. So on to an acting course at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Only to find he spent more time directing. He skips over a couple of years at the Nottingham Playhouse before the RSC came to call.

Part 2   Titus Andronicus

Greg tells us he always starts rehearsals with looking at the first two speeches in the play. This takes the form of a hugely detailed exploration of the text. I was in awe. 

He goes on to talk about him becoming an assistant director at Stratford but is encouraged to go out into the world and find what's out there beyond Shakespeare. There are various jobs he describes before putting on Titus Andronicus for The Market Theatre that is well received. Then a summer at the Keswick Theatre where he directs three plays. This success leads to an offer from the RSC to direct a production of Henry V111.

Part 3   Henry V111 or All is True

Greg starts by describing his research at Bristol University that leads into a production of The Booke of Sir Thomas Moore. Shakespeare may have been one of the contributors. Then it was Adrian Noble who invited Greg to direct Henry V111 or All is True. He tells us it's not an easy play to make interesting: "rarely performed and probably the weakest in the cannon". (See my post of 16th September 2022 about seeing the play at The Globe Theatre where I agreed with this sentiment). Greg takes us through the important scenes and then recounts when Prince Charles attended one performance (not long after his split from Diana). Charles says "one realises how difficult it can be to establish which of those around you one can really trust". That's the play for you. I did like one addition that Greg made and that was when at the very end Anne Boleyn appears at the back and puts a hand to her neck.