Midsummer Night's Dream: Shakespeare in Performance (Sourcebooks Shakespeare) - Softcover

'First there are accessible and interesting essays about how the
plays have been performed and interpreted over the years. Then there is the
text, with helpful notes on the facing pages. Finally - and most
innovatively - there is a CD at the back, which provides many and various
extracts from the play. Useful to anyone studying or teaching Shakespeare
at secondary school or college level.' -- The Stage, 12 April 2007

'First there are accessible and interesting essays about how the plays have been performed and interpreted over the years. Then there is the text, with helpful notes on the facing pages. Finally - and most innovatively - there is a CD at the back, which provides many and various extracts from the play. Useful to anyone studying or teaching Shakespeare at secondary school or college level.' -- The Stage, (12 April 2007)

'This intriguing series focuses on Shakespeare in performance...
The books themselves are packed with information - photographs of key
performances, essays on productions, and interviews with actors and
directors. Opposite each play text an extensive glossary explains
unfamiliar words, and the audio clips are marked alongside corresponding
scenes... The CDs reinforce the beauty and power of the language in
performance, and will undoubtedly enhance anyone's understanding and
enjoyment of Shakespeare's plays, as they were meant to be experienced.' -- The Good Book Guide, May 2007

'This intriguing series focuses on Shakespeare in performance... The books themselves are packed with information - photographs of key performances, essays on productions, and interviews with actors and directors. Opposite each play text an extensive glossary explains unfamiliar words, and the audio clips are marked alongside corresponding scenes... The CDs reinforce the beauty and power of the language in performance, and will undoubtedly enhance anyone's understanding and enjoyment of Shakespeare's plays, as they were meant to be experienced.' -- The Good Book Guide, (May 2007)

'This new Shakespeare book and CD brings Shakespeare's plays leaping to life. This innovative format contains text, audio and illustration... This is a revolutionary resource.' -- Bookseller, Back to School (8 June 2007)

'What a handsome set of play texts these are, with arresting contemporary images and chunky drop-into-your-bag appeal... A hugely valuable reference and resource... The focus is unashamedly on performance, with splendid black and white photos and illustrations on nearly every page. The series will be immensely useful for A-level Drama, Theatre Studies and English Literature students as well as for undergraduates and for teachers at all levels... The whole package manages to combine serious purpose and zing.' -- Times Educational Supplement (June 2007)

[Review of Richard III] 'A complete package for anyone wanting to study the play itself, and the performance dimension....It is complemented by an excellent CD which includes narrative by Derek Jacobi set alongside contrasting performances from major productions of the play with some of the greatest stage interpretations of the Bard's work.' -- Publishing News, Back to School (1 June 2007)

The audio CD with this edition of A Midsummer Night's Dream contains aseries of unique recordings to illustrate how different actors placetheir own interpretation on the play. Hear Sir John Gielgud in arecording from the 1930s reciting a speech of Puck's. Compare that to acontemporary recording made in 2003. There are also superb performancesfrom Michael Maloney, Amanda Root and David Harewood. The text is illustrated throughout with photographs from notableproductions, including the 1970 RSC production directed by Peter Brook,the 1994 RSC production directed by Adrian Noble and the ShakespeareTheatre Company's 2003-04 production. The book also takes you behindthe scenes with reproductions of set drawings, costume designs andscene edits, all from original notes. As well as the playtext, there are articles covering a range of topicsincluding 'In Production: A Midsummer Night's Dream through the Years'by Teri Bourus, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream in Popular Culture' byDouglas Lanier, 'A Voice Coach's Perspective on Speaking Shakespeare'by Andrew Wade and 'In the Age of Shakespeare' by Thomas Garvey.TheSourcebooks Shakespeare A Midsummer Night's Dream is an invaluable toolfor students of all ages from GCSE to A Level and beyond.