I will update with my review once the SMP boycott has ended.

In the meantime...
#SPEAKUPSMP has three demands:

Address and denounce the Islamophobia/racism from their employee.

Offer tangible steps for how they're going to mitigate the harm this employee caused.

Address how, moving forward, they will support and protect their Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab readers, influencers, and authors in addition to their BIPOC readers, influencers, and authors.

Princess Fuzzypants here: This is a breezy and chatty book of conversations between Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea. The reader feels like one is listening to the two banter back and forth about acting in general and acting in Shakespeare specifically. They go through the myriad of roles she has played in a long career and the insights and knowledge that she shares is amazing and entertaining. She comes off as a lovely, kind, intelligent woman who knows her stuff. It is filled with revelations.

In fact, this book should be required reading for anyone studying Shakespeare or anyone studying acting. It is that good. Five purrs and two paws up,

This really is a gem of a book. Part memoir, part love letter to the theater, part master class on Shakespeare from the actor's perspective, this book has something for everyone. And if you aren't madly in love with Judi Dench by the end of it, you weren't pay attention to her irreverent humor and sharp mind.

The book is essentially a series of interviews between Judi and Brendan O'Hea, with wonderful repartee. Most chapters focus on a single play, with Judi deconstructing the play from the perspective of her character with asides about her performance and casts. You don't have to be a Shakespeare scholar to follow along. In fact, this would be the perfect book for someone looking for an introduction to his plays. Her approach is refreshing and a little radical; she explains Hamlet from the perspectives of Ophelia and Gertrude; King Lear from the perspectives of his daughters; Coriolanus from the perspective of Volumnia. In a canon focused on decoding Shakespeare's leading men, Judi Dench foregrounds the women.

Of course, it works well this way because it's also a memoir. Interspersed between chapters on the plays are short ruminations about life in the theatre. Yet another audience for this book: prospective or current actors. Her love for theater acting in particular shines through here, and I could see how someone with the acting bug would want to tread the boards in Stratford after reading this.

I always had the sense Dame Judi was a bit cheeky, but she's downright naughty at times here. No plays are off-limits from her sharp humor: she is openly hostile (in the funniest ways possible) to The Merchant of Venice, and admits that Lear is well-written but not her favorite. She pulls back the curtain on shenanigans by some of the most famous classical actors and directors from productions staged 40-60 years ago.

I honestly felt transported. As I read this, I was at the plays and could see the action unfolding on the stage. She has done a marvelous job in honoring both the man who pays the rent (so named because, well, she made a living performing his plays) and the theatrical life that she so clearly adores.

I was enthralled by Shakespeare: the Man Who Pays the Rent. Reading it is like being in the room with Dame Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea as they talked about Judi’s career, her love for Shakespeare, and the numerous roles she has played over the years. Shakespeare to Judi Dench is a passionate affair, she talks about it with love.

My introduction to Shakespeare was at secondary school, when each year we studied one of his plays. Then some years ago I took an Open University course on Shakespeare, so I’ve read and seen performances of many of the plays in which she has acted. Unfortunately she wasn’t acting in any of the plays I’ve seen on stage. I enjoyed Shakespeare at school but it was only when I took the Open University course and saw the plays live on the stage that I really began to love them. And when I read Shakespeare: the Man Who Pays the Rent it brought it all back to me.

This book is a wonderful run through the plays told from Judi’s perspective and, of course, her life, giving her insight not only into the characters but also into the world of the theatre. She talks about the rehearsals, the costumes, the sets, other actors, about critics, Shakespeare’s language – similes and metaphors, the use of rhyme, prose and verse, soliloquies, asides and how to adjust your breathing – and so on. Whatever she is talking about is all so clear and relevant, full of wit and humour and understanding. It brought back such wonderful memories of the plays I’ve studied and seen performed. And as for the plays I don’t know this book makes me want to see those as well.

It is a book I shall return to whenever I need a pick me up – I loved it, it gave me so much joy. There is so much more in this book than I’ve included here – I have only covered the surface in this post. If you like Judi Dench and Shakespeare you really should read Shakespeare: the Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench with Brendan O’Hea. And it includes Illustrations by Judi Dench too!

Usually I start my reviews by talking about the book and then I end with my personal thoughts and feelings, as best I can put them into words at that point in the day (usually late, so they’re generally far from perfect). But I’m going to do this differently and I will tell you why. 

It’s a trap. Like the part of Hamlet I borrowed for my title, where Hamlet is trying to trap a killer into giving himself away, listening to Dame Judi Dench talk about her time with Shakespeare is a trap. Because you’re sitting, reading, as she describes being feral as a child, running and singing and riding bikes, or things that went wrong onstage during a production, like fainting during Twelfth Night because she had malaria, and then suddenly you’re knee deep in the Shakespeare. And it’s like no other conversation you’ve had about the man. 

We all studied some of the plays in high school or college, and we all know what they’re like. They’re dense with words and poetry, and some of the language is archaic, and trying to understand what is going on makes your head swim a little. But when Dame Dench talks about the plays, she wipes all that away and describes them in modern terms that makes them seem so clear, so accessible. I mean, you signed up for juicy backstage stories, and you get sucked into the stories about the plays themselves. Just like that, you’re stuck wanting to know more about the Shakespeare. As I said, it’s a trap.

The book itself is written as a series of conversations, because it is. She sat down with her friend, director and actor Brendan O’Hea, and she talks about her seven decades of time on the stage, and they go character by character, play by play, talking through the plots, the key lines, the relationships. And Dame Dench shows her intelligence, her amazing memory, her wit, and her incisive understanding of these works as she talks about all the things she loves about Shakespeare and his women.

You may think this book would only be interesting to theater nerds, and sure, anyone interested in the theater will devour Dame Dench’s insights. But it would also be an amazing help to anyone studying the plays of Shakespeare. It offers insight to those studying acting, directing, or theater design. And of course, anyone who is a fan of Dame Judi Dench will love her stories, memories, anecdotes, advice, and, as she is British, all the tea.

I loved this book so much. It’s a gift that keeps giving, as se goes through play after play. Being a party to the conversation of two veteran actors is fun enough, but with Dame Dench and her smart and surprisingly edgy style of talking about Shakespeare, I just wanted to pull up a chair and listen all day. Like I said, I got sucked into this book, and I have a feeling I’ll keep going back to it, because it’s just that much fun. I have an English degree, and I have never heard anyone talk about Shakespeare the way Dame Dench does. It’s eye-opening and entertaining, and all word nerds should buy themselves a copy of Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent, as soon as you can.

Egalleys for Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

For fans of Shakespeare or Dame Dench. I am a fan of the latter, and a novice to the former. This book has motivated me to dig deeper. I am inspired to lister to a few of the plays and then re read specific sections of this title.

I listened to the audiobook aand read along and it was a delightful experience. The interviews with Judi Dench about her career of acting Shakespeare plays onstage was both enlightening and entertaining. The best part was her sense of humor and hearing her giggling!

This isn't the type of book I normally read, but what a joy it was. I was offered this to review and though I would take a chance on it. O'Hea interviews Judi Dench about her vast work in Shakespeare She is incredible. She has played in about everything he wrote and she remembers all of it. She can even talk about what she wore on stage in 1958! A great actress who takes who craft seriously, she doesn't take herself so seriously. But while taking that craft seriously, she has fun with it. The format is O'Hea making comments, asking questions, and occasionally stirring the pot and Dench responding. There are some of her sketches sprinkled throughout. If you have any interest in theater, and I really don't have much, this is worth a read. Even with my tiny interest in the theater, I found it worthwhile.

I thought this book was going to be a memoir of the life of Judy Dench. When I realized it was about the Shakespeare productions she’s worked on it wasn’t of interest to me.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent (These reviews based on an ARC from NetGalley)
Author: Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea
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,
I found this book so exciting as I got a much more understanding of the characters in the Shakespeare's plays discussed by Judy Dench. She illustrates the characters she played from a really young age to a mature woman and the actors she starred with such as Ian McKellen, John Gielgud and Kenneth Branagh.
It is a fascinating read which came about during Covid. Brendan O”hea wrote the book but as Judy said “it was like having a long conversation with a friend”, She goes onto say if you want to know about, love, jealousy and anger to name a few themes Shakespeare wrote it.
This book is a good introduction to some of the plays and famous lines from them.

For some reason I expected a very different format of story when starting this book, but soon realized it was simply an in depth interview with actress Judi Dench about her experience with Shakespearian work. I have to admit that I didn't know much about Judi Dench or Shakespeare before reading this book but now I have a love for both of them and have already started reading and watching their other work. Judi puts Shakespeare in a beautiful perspective that made me want to dedicate all of my time to his work. I no longer feel as intimidated by the speech and writing instead I feel excited to learn how to best read the plays and sonnets as well as watch as many as I can. I was extremely impressed with how immersed I was into each play that was talked about in this book especially since I had little to no background knowledge on any of them. A beautiful non fiction novel that reminded me of Daisy Jones and the Six but with the passionate love for Shakespeare rather than rock music. I highly recommend this book wether or not you are interested in Shakespeare. It is so much more than a book about one writer it is a book about passion, learning, love, and friendship.

A fascinating look behind the curtain, so to speak. No one tells a story better than Dame Judi Dench, and hearing her talk about her times acting in Shakespeare's plays is most entertaining. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves theatre.

I love Judi Dench and I really wanted to learn more about her but this book was definitely not for me …
For the right audience , I’m sure it’s a great book
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review

A wonderfully entertaining conversation with our dear friend, Judi. Judi Dench has always been a favorite of mine but I had not realized how many of her works were Shakespeare. It was eye opening to read of her many encounters while performing and realize just how much an actress, even one as well known as Dench, must experience during her rise to fame.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent
By Judi Dench with Brendan O'Hea

April 2024

Non-Fiction


What would it be like to sit and chat with a world renowned actress and hear tantalizing tidbits of her experiences over a well decorated career spanning multiple decades? Luckily, we have been given the opportunity with Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent.

Brendan O'Hea had interviewed Dame Judi Dench over the course of several years to record her experiences performing in Shakespeare plays. This has now been turned into a book. Mr O'Hea asks Dame Dench questions of the various plays she was in, as well as the various roles in the plays. Readers are then treated to conversations between two colleagues and gifted with their observations, thoughts, and stories.

Informative and utterly entertaining, Ms Dench's triumphs and mishaps will make you laugh and cry. She has worked with so many exceptional actors it was always fascinating to see who would be mentioned next. Even more interesting is her insight into the works of William Shakespeare and acting. Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent is the perfect read for any fan of Dame Dench and those who enjoy the theater. And with all the knowledge she is sharing, a must read for those pursuing acting.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

This is an amazing book that shares Dame Judi Dench’s thoughts on Shakespeare’s writing, plays, and characters. And she mixes it with her knowledge and memories of seven decades of performances of Shakespeare's work in the British theater. I love the side stories such as hef lying in pain on stage after breaking her ribs falling dead as Juliet. She easily picks out powerful lines or shows the complexity of a relationship between characters based on a few Shakespearean words. She understands the characters and their motivations. She also has stories upon stories from various productions in her lifetime. I honestly thought I would skim the book because there are plays and characters I am less familiar with but I didn’t want to miss any of her insights or experiences. This is for Shakespeare lovers, theater lovers and fans of Dench. I only wish there were more than two photos included in the book.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench with Brendan O'Hea is a love letter to both Shakespeare and a life spent performing his works. Written in a very conversational style the book recounts Judi's long and illustrious career in theatre, moving through each of her roles, and the relevant plays in turn. In Judi's trademark irreverent style we hear accounts of working with some of the best actors and directors of her generation and while she is always quick to recount an amusing tale she is equally determined to celebrate the best about those she has shared a stage with as well as the beauty of the plays themselves. As the conversations progress over the course of the book we see the joys and tragedies of life reflected in art and examine how through his characters Shakespeare explores so many facets of humanity. I think this is a must read for anyone who considers themselves a fan of Judi Dench or an aficionado of the works of Shakespeare , and certainly anyone who dreams of a life on the stage would do well to read this. Because of the way the book is organised I found it perfect to dip in and out of , but I have no doubt that it will be read cover to cover by many readers who will enjoy it just as much as I have.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I've always liked Shakespeare, but my interest quadrupled after taking an Intro to Shakespeare course in college. My class was less than 15 people and my professor was really chill. She helped break down the material and we always watched the adaptation afterward. Whenever I read the Bard, I try to tandem read with a performance to catch all the proper inflections and jokes. Judi Dench's memoir was an absolute dream. I had read all the plays she referenced except for The Merry Wives of Windsor, which was next on my list anyway. She even had a small chapter dedicated to my favorite play, Cymbeline, an often glossed-over work of Shakespeare. Dench recalled her fondest memories working for the Royal Shakespeare Company and each chapter was so fascinating. I've read 24 of his plays and I wish I knew as much as she does.

For those who aren't Bard Babies such as myself, this book could be a bit difficult to read. If you're not familiar with the play she's referencing, all the subtleties and minute details could be lost on you. Thankfully, her interviewer helps provide proper context for all the various scenes. There were even a few drawings done by Dench herself peppered in between chapters. This book was so darling and I even tandem read As You Like It alongside this book. She helped reinvigorate my love for Shakespeare because it had been a year since I read The Comedy of Errors. Although there were many plays she dissected, the chapters were very short and I loved reading her interpretation of all her roles she's played in her illustrious career.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent was a phenomenal book and it's wonderful to see another Bard Baby singing his praises. I would recommend this for seasoned thespians or those who merely wish to dip their toes into Shakespearean waters. I hope this book encourages those to pick up his plays or even watch a modern adaption. It's so important to keep the theater alive four centuries after his passing. Shakespeare may not pay my rent, but I'm glad it paid hers!

Dame Judi Dench is a national treasure and this book just enforces this over and over again. What a life this woman has lived [both on the stage and off]!!

I have not seen a live Shakespeare play, but certainly hope to now [not something that I ever thought I would say]. When I was a kid I read A Midsummer Night's Dream and loved that immensely - that was my intro to Shakespeare. I read the obligatory Romeo and Juliet [I am not a fan] and Macbeth [I am a HUGE fan] in school and then when Mel Gibson did Hamlet in movie form [and then went into schools to teach it] in the 90's, I saw that [I am also a HUGE fan of this] and again, when Kenneth Branagh [who I would L O V E to see on the stage] did a movie of Hamlet [great googly moogly that movie is L O N G. Brilliant, but L O N G], I watched that. So I guess seeing a play live would obviously be my next step. But to be honest, nothing else has ever really grabbed my attention. Until now.

Dame Judi has an exquisite memory - of all of her shows, the costumes, the people, the directors and the love she speaks of each play is awe-inspiring [with the exception of one, that I cannot remember now. She dislikes that one greatly. Which is probably why I don't remember it. If Dame Judi doesn't like it, neither will I. LOL] and inspired me to seek out more productions of these plays [I know that there are some live productions that have been filmed], even ones I never ever thought I would want to see; this is how much of an influence she has on the reader. She, along with Brendan O'Hea just breathe life into the works of Shakespeare and make even one who is indifferent about The Bard much more interested. Listening to her tell the stories was just fantastic and while I learned so much while listening, it was mostly just a really enjoyable way to pass a couple afternoons, filled with laughter and some tears and absolute genuine affection for a person I have never [and will never[ meet. This book brought me genuine joy and I am so glad that I was able to read/listen to it.

I was able to get the audiobook ARC of this book and to be honest, this is the very best way to experience this book. While Dame Judi doesn't narrate all of it [Barbara Flynn does most of the heavy lifting here - and I swear she must have been infused with Dame Judi's very essence as she sounds very much like her {down to her laugh}, that most of the time I completely forgot that it wasn't actually Dame Judi speaking {until she would quote a bit of Shakespeare in between chapters and I would snap back to reality}. As a side note, listening to Dame Judi read Sonnet 116 will bring you to tears and made me want to listen to it over and over again. I highly recommend the audiobook to everyone who is interested in this book - listening to Dame Judi and Brendan O'Hea bicker at the very end is absolutely priceless and is a great way to end the book. Just glorious!

I was invited to read and review this book by the publishers [St. Martin's Press], and I want to thank them, Dame Judi Dench, Brendan O'Hea [author/narrator], Barbara Flynn - Narrator, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for providing both the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

This book is absolutely charming. Sometimes we focus on the literary nuances (and mysteries) of Shakespeare, but Judi Dench is here to remind us how much an actor learns by playing Shakespearean characters. She has some really stunning insights, plus some funny and outlandish stories of productions over the years.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.