I'm a big fan of Judi Dench's but not very knowledgeable on Shakespeare. Therefore, for me, the book started out a little slow (I had a lot of learning to do), but as it progressed it got better and better. By a quarter of the way into the book, I was hooked! It's written in the form of interviews by Brendan O'hea and Judi's responses. There were times when I laughed out loud and certainly many times when I learned more about Shakespeare's plays and Judi as an actress.

This book was tremendous fun—almost mandatory in something you want to pick up to read right now. The book is based on a series of intimate conversations between Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea, and I felt as if I were in the room with them, a welcome guest. Dench's off the cuff command of the material, even going back to parts she played decades before, is stunning. If she had been 40 when she wrote this I would have been just as impressed; the fact that she was in her 80s is astonishing. I should note that you do not need to be a Shakespeare buff to enjoy this, as Dench provides ample setups to her stories. Brendan O'Hea is a delight as well, and their tremendous report is charming and truly priceless. If you love the theater (and maybe even if you don't) this book is a must read. Before you read it, I highly recommend watching Dench's impromptu Sonnet performance on the Graham Norton show from October 27,2023. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0gp8klg

Dame Judi Dench is delightful as she reminisces about her experience in many Shakespearean productions. Director Brendan O'Hea spent four years interviewing Dench about her Shakespearean roles with the original intent of sharing the discussions with the theatre archive. fortunately for us, they penned a book instead.

The book is a transcript of these fascinating discussions. Each chapter discusses a different role and Dench provides interesting insight into the character and thoughtful analysis of the play. She also relates many a colorful take about the performances.

Dench first came to international acclaim when she was cast as M in the James Bond movies. But thee award winning actress has starred in British theatre and television and numerous films for almost seven decades. She won an academy award for her appearance as Queen Elizbeth in "Shakespeare in Love", which is appropriate since she began her career performing is Shakespeare's plays when she joined the Old Vic and later, the National Theatre Company and the Royal Shakespeare Company. She and her husband actor Michael Williams used to joke that Shakespeare was the man who pays the rent. The discussions are so insightful that actors will find this book of great use, as Ohea originally intended. But anyone who loves the theater will adore this memoire.

I was thrilled to win this book from the publishers in a giveaway contest. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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This was interesting but if you didn't know at least a reasonable amount of Shakespeare, you might not find it that entertaining. There were some funny bits and added to my knowledge of Shakespeare. I could definitely hear Judi Dench's personality and humour. Lots of names dropped that I recognized including lots I didn't know did Shakespeare. Good insights on what was meant in the plays and how they portrayed various characters. Overall I enjoyed it.

A walk down memory lane with the Queen herself- Dame Judi Dench.

Now anyone who has dabbled in British cinematography has most likely come across Judi Dench at one point or another whether they realize it or not. Her acting is commanding, and iconic. Very near and dear to the hearts of many fans and, if you are here now- you most likely count yourself among us.

The man Who Pays the Rent is a beautiful peek behind the curtain, delving into Dench's memories during her countless years dedicated to Shakespearian works. Every chapter covers a different play that she has been involved in and features several sketches from her personal collection. I am torn, however, because this book isn't quite what I expected it to be.

I was looking forward to long exposes and comedic tales of Judi Dench's (mostly) stage life. What I got was an interview-format smattering of her career. While this is charming in its own right the book is limited by the interviewer's questions. Interviewer? Yes- This book is a recreated Q&A format, which I imagine would lend itself best to an audio format despite the inclusion of Judi's hand drawings.

The questions felt haphazard at best, with Judi Dench on several occasions being quoted as confused by the direction the narrative was leading, needing more clarification and rambling. You would do best to have a clear understanding of Shaespeare's works prior to picking up this tome.

HOWEVER- Because of my love for Dame Judi Dench and the whimsy captured herewithin I would still recommend taking up and cherishing this read IF you are nostalgic for the actress or the theatrical culture. Undoubtedly you will find this a light and charming read provided you fall into the overlapping subject matter. If not, it may fall short. Either way, you will be able to get through it in an afternoon no problem.

[Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a free copy of this read in exchange for an honest review.]

As someone who hardly knows anything about Shakespeare, this was entertaining and fun, Dench being absolutely hilarious while describing her experiences on the productions, while also giving her thoughts on the bard and his plays. This felt like both a nice way to spend some time while learning new perspectives about such an important part of literary culture.

I read #Shakespeare:TheManWhoPaystheRent as a free ebook from #NetGalley. Judi Dench talks to Brendan O'Hea about her roles in the Shakespeare plays she did when she acted at the Old Vic and for the Royal Shakespeare Company. She also acted the roles on the radio. The book brings forth many emotions as all of us have at one time either seen or read at least one Shakespeare play. Along with the plays and the parts that she played she talks about the other actors and actresses and what she enjoyed and didn't enjoy. She talks about her daughter growing up in the theater and her husband Michael. As you read it, you hear her voice in your head. Some of the plays were less well known to me and I started getting bored with the book so I skipped those chapters and read her general chapters such as the chapter entitled Audience. I recommend this book to people who like reading memoirs.

The most perfect Shakespeare lesson ever compiled. Dench and O'Hea have in-depth discussions about many of The Bard's greatest (and some not-so-known) plays based on the roles she has played. I guarantee you will walk away with a greater understanding of the plays themselves and their importance in culture and the English language from reading this book than with almost any class you could possibly find about Shakespeare.

You do get some great personal insights and stories by Dame Judi Dench, but the book truly is about the man whose work she has brought to life on the stage over the course of her many decades of career. The insights are almost little asides about things that happened while she was working on a play and barely mentions unless it's something that really had to do with the play. Not a big deal when you consider how amazing an education on Shakespeare the book turned out to be, but I somehow expected more of a memoir.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the informational read!

I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this as I’m neither here nor there on Shakespeare. However, as I should have suspected, Dench won me over immediately! These are her personal thoughts and memories of working on countless different productions, and it is far more entertaining than anything else I’ve read on Shakespeare! I knew that she has had a prolific career in the theatre but I had no idea just how many of his plays she has acted in.

This was funnier than I expected it to be; I always think of Shakespearian actors as fully on board with all of Shakespeare’s characters but Dench challenges so many of them. Not only are there some hilarious anecdotes (with some big name actors), I felt much more comfortable in my own understanding of Shakespeare after. I also appreciated that she recognised that she truly disliked several of his plays; we don’t get that form many Shakespearean actors, and it highlights her true honesty.

Where was this book when I was struggling to understand the appeal of Shakespeare in my high school English classes? Hearing the passion that Judi Dench has for the Bard's works is infectious. I may actually go see a play!

I loved the conversational quality of this book! It was a pretty easy read in that it flowed so well from topic to topic without bogging down anywhere. Like eavesdropping on a really good conversation at a coffee shop. *innocent angel halo face*

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book! This is my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Publishing for an advance copy of this title for review.

Dame Judi Dench is an actress who has spent the majority of her life performing the works of the Bard of Stratford-Upon-Avon, William Shakespeare. This book is the result of an oral history project spearheaded by Brendan O'Hea, an actor and director who has previously worked alongside Ms. Dench. Together, they discuss all the Shakespearean roles she has played as well as her general experience as an actress trained through the various theatrical companies in Britain. (Some plays do not get discussed due to Dench not performing in them, such as The Tempest and Timon of Athens).

Throughout the book, readers can observe Dame Judi's witty and childlike humor through her life experiences, as well as the highs and lows of a life long lived. Dench especially goes into detail about the various directors, costars, and production companies she has worked with, giving insight to how actors and audiences have observed the works of Shakespeare over the decades. Her little pearls of wisdom shine bright throughout that I cannot recommend it enough for actors regardless of the roles they are playing.

If I have one problem with this book, I think it would have been nice to have a section where Judi could have discussed the roles that she had not played but would have liked to, just to get her thoughts on some other works. Overall, it is a great read for fans of theatre and actors alike.

I discussed this book on my small YouTube channel.

Transcript:

The new book by the great actor Judi Dench, called Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent, is absolutely delightful. If you’re looking for rigorous scholarship about the life or the plays of the Bard, this is not the book for you. But it is a tremendous romp through Dench’s lifetime of experience playing an incredibly wide variety of roles in stage performances as well as film adaptations of Shakespeare’s work.

The book is not so much a written text as an account of a series of conversations she had with the director Brendan O’Hea. Together, they work through the plays, giving brief synopses and pointing to major themes, but also sharing many of the key lines from the plays and discussing what Shakespeare might have meant as well as how actors over time might have twisted those lines slightly.

Sometimes these conversations between Dench and O’Hea focus on the particular choices individual directors made, and how they affected viewers’ interpretations of Shakespeare’s text as well as how they might have affected the actors and other crew working on a particular performance. All of this is done in very light and often very funny style. Dench and O’Hea have a wonderful teasing rapport. At the same time, there are some deeply insightful moments in every chapter—about Shakespeare, about performances of his work, and about acting in general.

If you’re a Shakespeare fan, or if you’re a Judi Dench fan, or if you are just just interested in the link between ANY text and performance, I encourage you to pick this book up.

I was lured to this book by the promise of Dame Judi Dench, yet I approached it with some trepidation: fearing that my man-on-the-street knowledge of Shakespeare’s works would limit my understanding of the subject matter. Fear not, gentle reader. Dench’s late husband, Michael (also a Shakespearean actor), referred to the Bard as the man who pays the rent—thus the title of this book. O’Hea, like Dench, has spent his life on the Shakespeare circuit.
In this book, O’Hea “interviews” Dench over the course of 4 years, discussing the roles that she has played, the directors with whom she worked, the theaters, the costumes, the sets, the lighting, the other actors. Together they dissect Shakespeare’s plot lines, his humor, his use of both prose and poetry to express a character’s meaning. They talk about the audience reaction, particularly in Shakespeare’s time. And they laugh over the miscues, missed direction, and blunders that occur in live theater, and how the actors compensate for these mistakes extemporaneously.
Judi Dench’s impish personality shines throughout this book. O’Hea did a great job of leading her into all these memories and observations. Ultimately, this is the story of two great friends who have worked together over their lifetime to bring Shakespeare to the masses, and through this book they brought him to me too.
My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, Brendon O’Hea and Judi Dench for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this marvelous book. My opinions are my own.

Judi Dench is hands down one of the coolest women on the planet and I'm so glad I got the opportunity to read this book and learn more about her life.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Through an interview format, Judi Dench describes the many characters she embodied for the Royal Shakespeare Company over decades of her illustrious career. Far from being dry for the non-Shakespeareans out there, it reads like a conversation between friends who share the same passion for theater. Dench imbues this book with her trademark personality while sharing her thoughts about the plays and characters she portrayed. She also shares stories about the theater, life of an actor, the people with whom she worked, and, most endearing, stories of childhood.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

“Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent” is a fascinating exploration of the Bard’s enduring influence, penned by the incomparable Dame Judi Dench and the insightful Brendan O’Hea. This book is a vibrant tapestry that intertwines personal anecdotes with profound insights into Shakespeare’s works.

Dench, with her seven decades of experience in the theatre, brings a level of intimacy and authenticity to the narrative that is rarely found in literary memoirs. Her vivid recounting of taking a curtain call with a live snake in her wig, or cavorting through the Warwickshire countryside painted green, brings a delightful sense of whimsy to the pages.

O’Hea, an accomplished actor and director, complements Dench’s narratives with his own sharp observations, making the book a dual homage to Shakespeare. Their conversations traverse through each of Dench’s Shakespearean roles, from Lady Macbeth to Titania, offering readers a front-row seat to her creative process and the evolution of her interpretations.

The book is peppered with vignettes that capture the spirit of the theatre, the camaraderie among actors, and the often-overlooked aspects of stagecraft, from costumes to sets. It’s a testament to the duo’s storytelling prowess that the book appeals not just to Shakespeare aficionados but also to those who may not be as familiar with his plays.

“Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent” is a love letter to the enduring power of Shakespeare’s words and their capacity to shape lives and careers. It’s a literary demonstration of Dench’s energy, flair, and fiery intelligence, all of which have made her a beloved figure in the world of theatre.

For anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s impact on one of the greatest actors of our time, or for those simply looking for a book that captures the magic of the stage, this memoir is a must-read. It’s instructive, witty, and ultimately, a profound tribute to the man whose work continues to pay the rent for countless artists around the world.

I'm one of the millions of fans of Judi Dench, but I think that I'm not quite a fan enough of Shakespeare to enjoy this book as much as others have done. The interviews discuss the plays and characters in depth, and there are a lot of funny moments. Judi is clearly brilliant and witty. I just didn't know enough Shakespeare to really enjoy every bit of it.

I would make sure you don't miss this part of the blurb: "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."

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC #sponsored

On Shakespeare Today

Dame Judi Dench is one of the best Shakespearean actresses of the late 20th Century. She may be the best. She made her professional debut in 1957, and still performs today.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent, by Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea, provides a remarkable overview of her Shakespearean career. With O’Hea providing the sounding board, Dench provides a lively reminiscence of her life.

The book started out as O’Hea collecting an oral history of Dench’s acting career for the Shakespeare’s Globe archives. He wanted her impressions of the Shakespeare plays in which she appeared. They realized the recordings had appeal beyond Shakespeare or theater scholars.

The result is a lively, frequently hilarious, and always entertaining discussion of Shakespeare by two outstanding thespians. Chapters alternate between those centering Shakespeare plays in which Dench performed followed by one discussing different aspects of Dench’s Shakespearean career. Dench’s non-Shakespearean career are discussed only in context to her Shakespearean work.

Dench takes readers inside her career, discussing every aspect of it, her successes, failures, and odd happenings. She also reveals life behind the stages, discussing the personalities she has interacted with and the shenanigans that occur. She presents what goes into making a play, the company, the rehearsal process, dressing room etiquette, how different theaters affect a performance.

The heart of the book is the chapters about the plays. Dench explores Shakespeare’s purpose in each play. She discusses her performances in each play and how her interpretation of the character changed as she gained experience. She also discusses how playing different characters – such as Ophelia or Gertrude in Hamlet – changed her perception of the play. The book is illustrated with Dench’s marginalia, drawings doodled in her scripts.

She also puts each play in historical context, defending Shakespeare from Woke attacks and censorship. She is not a historical purist who demands Shakespeare must always be performed in Elizabethan costume and Elizabethan staging. She shows how modern updates can enhance the play, but wants changes appropriate to Shakespeare’s values.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent is a gem. It offers insight into both Shakespeare’s work and Dench’s career. She explains why Shakespeare remains relevant today and her continuing love for his work. For both Shakespeare and Dench fans, this is a book that must be read. For those only peripherally acquainted with the two, read the book. It might turn you into a fan.

“Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent,” by Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea, St. Martin’s Press, April 2024,‎ 400 pages, $32.00 (Hardcover), $15.99 (E-book), $26.99 (Audiobook)

This review was written by Mark Lardas, who writes at Ricochet as Seawriter. Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, historian, and model-maker, lives in League City, TX. His website is marklardas.com

Judi Dench is one of my all-time favorite actors, so I was really excited to pick up this book from her. This was an interesting format; it's written as a conversation between Dench and O'Hea, as he asks her questions about the many different Shakespeare roles she's taken on over the years. It was fascinating to read about her process as an actor (especially the character work she does), and how her feelings about the work have changed as she's aged. There were some parts that felt a little dry to me, but that's probably because I wasn't familiar with every single play that's dissected. I wish there had been a bit more about Dench's Hollywood connections, but this should be a must-read for anyone who loves Shakespeare or anyone who is interested in classical acting. Dench's witty sense of humor and feistiness really came out on the page, so it was a delight to feel like I was sitting down for tea, picking her brain.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent is a wonderfully witty and well written memoir by Dame Judi Dench (with Brendan O'Hea) about her astounding richly lived life in the theatre. Released 23rd April 2024 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 400 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

Ms. Dench is a titan of theatre. Instantly recognizable around the world, wonderfully witty, prodigiously talented, versatile, and so intelligent. This is a delightful book showcasing her experiences and talents and the collaborator has made the right choice in recording her reminiscences without generally getting in the way and "improving" things.

The stories are written around her Shakespearean theatre work: Macbeth, Midsummer, Twelfth Night, Merchant, Hamlet, Coriolanus, As You Like it, Measure for Measure, Much Ado, Lear, Comedy of Errors, Richard II, Antony & Cleopatra, Cymbeline, All's Well, Henry V, Merry Wives, Richard III, Winter's Tale, Romeo & Juliet, and a vast number of niche musings and pithy observations which fall outside strict categories/plays.

Wonderful *wonderful* human being and a delightful read. The text is enhanced throughout by simple pen and ink sketches by the author herself.

Five strong stars. Definite must-have for public library acquisitions folks, theatre lovers, Shakespeare lovers, TV/movie aficionados, etc.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.