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Shakespeare

The Man Who Pays The Rent

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Shakespeare

By: Judi Dench
Narrated by: Brendan O’Hea, Barbara Flynn, Judi Dench
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Discover the work of the greatest writer in the English language as you've never encountered it before by listening to internationally renowned actor Dame Judi Dench's SHAKESPEARE: The Man Who Pays The Rent - a witty, insightful journey through the plays and tales of our beloved Shakespeare

Read by Barbara Flynn (Open All Hours, The Durrels) and the book’s co-author Brendan O’Hea. Also featuring a warm and witty exclusive bonus conversation between Dame Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea about the making of the book.

Taking a curtain call with a live snake in her wig...

Cavorting naked through the Warwickshire countryside painted green...

Acting opposite a child with a pumpkin on his head...

These are just a few of the things Dame Judi Dench has done in the name of Shakespeare.

For the very first time, Judi opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played throughout her seven-decade career, from Lady Macbeth and Titania to Ophelia and Cleopatra. In a series of intimate conversations with actor & director Brendan O'Hea, she guides us through Shakespeare's plays with incisive clarity, revealing the secrets of her rehearsal process and inviting us to share in her triumphs, disasters, and backstage shenanigans.

Interspersed with vignettes on audiences, critics, company spirit and rehearsal room etiquette, she serves up priceless revelations on everything from the craft of speaking in verse to her personal interpretations of some of Shakespeare's most famous scenes, all brightened by her mischievous sense of humour, striking level of honesty and a peppering of hilarious anecdotes, many of which have remained under lock and key until now.

Instructive and witty, provocative and inspiring, this is ultimately Judi's love letter to Shakespeare, or rather, The Man Who Pays The Rent.

'A MAGICAL LOVE LETTER TO SHAKESPEARE' Sir Kenneth Branagh

©2023 Judi Dench (P)2023 Penguin Audio

 Drama & Plays Entertainment & Celebrities Entertainment & Performing Arts Shakespeare Celebrity Entertainment Theatre Funny Thought-Provoking Witty

Critic Reviews

Wonderfully inspiring. A delightful spell in the company of one of our greatest and most thoughtful actresses
A magical love letter to Shakespeare
A wonderful mixture of appreciation and anecdote
It’s a mark of Dench’s impish genius and O’Hea’s deftness that it genuinely feels like you’re sitting at her kitchen table with her. It’s companionable and compelling – if you love Judi Dench or Shakespeare (and most of us do), look no further
Gorgeous flows of recollection
An utterly delightful book…there can be few higher pleasures in civilised life than hearing Judi Dench recite the poetry of Shakespeare. What emerges is a wealth of unpretentious horse sense – Shakespeare from a great actor’s perspective – that repeatedly strikes to the heart of the matter with a sharp instinctive intelligence that puts fancy-pants literary critics to shame
This is a gloriously entertaining tour through the canon in the company of perhaps the most experienced living Shakespearean actor; reading it feels like a chat with an old friend.
The book is pure enchantment. It swirls and dances with brilliance and mischief, so forget traditional Shakespearean criticism and analysis. Sack the Eng. Lit. professors. As never before, this book brings the subject to wild, authentic life.
A wonderful ode to the bard
Riveting, revealing and witty
All stars
Most relevant
PURE JOY to spend time with the indelible Judi Dench and her love of Shakespeare! This book is wonder-filled with her great insight to the plays, her hilarious banter with Brendan O’Hea and her impish spirit :)
And Barbara Flynn does a stellar job of capturing Dame Judi’s rhythm, warmth and her delightful giggle! Thank you 💗

Full of wonder, wisdom and wit - a brilliant listen!

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How wonderful to listen to this book.
For me it was learning about Shakespeare and how marvellous a writer he was and I now understand his plays so much more. Thank you Judy and Brendan even if you did get mad with each other. That only made me laugh.

Shakespeare

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Generally I would prefer to read a book but not in this case. Judy Dench truly brought Shakespeare’s work alive in this audio audition making me wish I had seen more of the bard’s plays. I also loved the patter between her and Brendan. Judy has been my favourite actress since I first seen her in a BBC Wednesday night play in 1966. This is an audible book I shall dip into again and again.

Brilliant Listen

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Regardless of what comes over the next 12 months this is my book of 2024. Bloody brilliant. Tickled pink with laughter on one page.. tears the next. Eyes open wide the following… kept entertained throughout. I never thought Shakespeare could be this much fun 🙃 Dialogue swims effortlessly. Brendan and Jude are the best of sparring partners. Jude is illuminating, her depth of knowledge astounding. What a treat 🎭 🩵

Shakespeare, just as you like it

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All Shakespeare fans will gain fresh insights into his works from this marvellous interview between Brendan O’Dea and Dame Judy, whose love and knowledge of the plays is inspiring.

The wisdom of Dame Judy Dench.

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