Sit in on nine intensive acting workshops conducted by the legendary John Barton of the Royal Shakespeare Company. How does this world-renowned troupe make classic plays accessible to modern audiences, without compromising the text's integrity? How do actors search Shakespeare's verse for hidden clues to their characters' motivations? How do they balance intellect and passion to make theatre's most famous soliloquies seem fresh? The answers come from Barton and 21 of Britain's finest actors, including Oscar winners Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love, Iris), Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Schindler's List), and Peggy Ashcroft (A Passage to India); Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings); Patrick Stewart (X-Men, Star Trek: The Next Generation); and David Suchet (Agatha Christie's Poirot). Also starring Sinead Cusack, Susan Fleetwood, Sheila Hancock, Alan Howard, Donald Sinden, Michael Williams, and more. - Publisher.