Absolutely delightful. This series of conversations between Dench and O'Hea is poignant, funny, and informative about Shakespeare, acting, and life. This is one that can easily be read as a collection of stories (which of course it is) - one at a time over days- but I suspect that others will, like me, find themselves turning the pages. The best part- Dench's commentary on various Shakespeare plays. While it helps to have read those, you'll be fine even if you haven't because there's context provided (and, of course, you can google them). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Wonderful read.

I know of Judi Dench and have long admired her film work but I have never had a chance to see her on stage, although I have always wanted to.

Having both studied Shakespeare's plays and had the opportunity to perform some of them I have always felt that actually seeing the plays (as opposed to reading them) is the very best way to enjoy them. It's when they come alive.

So, I jumped at the chance to read this book where I could read the thoughts and anecdotes of one of my favourite actors on my favourite playwright.

But this book is so much more than a conversation about Shakespeare with Judi Dench.

In fact, it was never meant to be a book but a series of conversations between Judi Dench and her longtime friend and colleague, Brendan O'Hea. Originally it was to be entered into the archives at Shakespeare's Globe. I am so glad it is a book as I believe it would appeal to a much wider audience.

The book highlights Shakespearian roles that the actor has played and provides her personal insight into their. characters. There are also some lovely anecdotes from the times when she was performing with the Old Vic and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

It spans decades of her career and mentions her working relationships with theatre greats such as Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn, John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft and Anthony Hopkins. That's just to name a few, but she has worked with some estimable people and has some great stories about all of them.

You get a sense of how long her career has spanned when she talks about her childhood, going to peace demonstrations during the 60's, the AIDS epidemic and the COVID pandemic.

It's a very easy read and one almost feels as if they are in the room, a part of this conversation with these two people who know each other well, who argue, giggle and tease each other. I laughed out loud several times. Judi Dench is funny, irreverent and often self-deprecating.

Her approach to the Shakespearian roles she has played is enlightening.

She says at one point "I also like to remind myself that there'll always be somebody in the audience seeing the play for the first time, and somebody seeing it for the last time, and that tends to focus me"

She also speaks of how Shakespeare and his plays have formed a part of the fabric of her life, including her funniest and most tragic moments.

It was wonderful to see her drawings, learn about her fear of worms and the many times she has fallen over on stage, as it gives us a glimpse into her humility and sense of humour.

I also didn't realise how many Shakespearian works I don't know that well. There are so many female parts that I had no idea were so layered. This book has revived my interest.

"Shakespeare is an international language, a beacon for humanity and a bridge across cultures... his writing has the capacity to make us feel less alone."

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own, even if they get me in trouble.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench; Brendan O'Hea in exchange for an honest review. It publishes April 23, 2024.
Wow! What a treasure of a book! This book was utterly conversational, and it was a joy to be a "fly on the wall", (was that Shakespeare?). I truly felt like I was there, listening in and gleaning from these meaningful conversations. As someone who isn't super familiar with most of Shakespeare's plays, aside from the few we did in school, I was able to soak in and learn so much about the Bard.
If you have any small amount of interest in Shakespeare, I would highly recommend this one!

I LOVED this book. I could hear Judi Dench speaking while reading. She is an amazing talent. I've followed her career for decades and think she is one of the finest actresses alive. This was a great book to read. This book was entertaining and enlightening. I think Judi Dench is an actress who excels at all roles.

It’s Judi Dench telling stories, what more do you want? Seriously, though, Dench is a phenomenal storyteller (and what stories she has to tell!) and her descriptions of these roles and these experiences make Shakespeare feel accessible in a way it hasn’t before. This made me want to read Shakespeare, which is also something that no other book has done before. I really like the style of the storytelling and I learned a lot. Would recommend!

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent is a captivating homage to the legendary playwright. It effortlessly swirls and dances with brilliance and mischief, showcasing Dench's profound understanding of Shakespeare's works. She embodies the essence of Shakespeare's ideal audience, the very person he envisioned while crafting his masterpieces. The wisdom conveyed within these pages is truly awe-inspiring, leaving readers breathless. This book is an enchanting masterpiece, casting a spell on all who delve into its pages. Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to share my thoughts on an ARC copy of this book.

Spellbinding and mesmerizing, this collection of conversations with Dame Judy Dench pulls back the curtain on the bard and his works from the perspective of one of the greatest actresses of our time. Summarizing the plots of each of her stage roles by the playwright, Dench interjects with her thoughts on characters, her relationships with her fellow actors, and her insights on the words and the wisdom of the bard. I was transported!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for my copy. These opinions are my own.

“Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent” is a captivating journey through the hallowed halls of the Bard’s timeless works. Dame Judi Dench, that luminous star of stage and screen, invites us into her world—a world where the words of Shakespeare dance, swirl, and resonate with a magic that defies time. This book is more than a memoir; it’s a love letter to Shakespeare—the man who pays the rent for every actor who treads the boards.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I got both the audio and ebook of this one. My review is that I very much enjoyed the audio and was just so so on the ebook. Nothing against the content, I just got a little lost. The book is basically a string of interviews with Dame Judi about her road to fame via the Shakespeare theatre. I learned things about Shakespeare plays that I never knew about, and enjoyed it. The narrators are excellent, easy to understand and engaging.

I do think that this book would be a great starting point for someone wanting to know a bit about Shakespeare and also how Dame Dench chose her way of acting in these plays.

4.5 stars

Brendan O’Hea is an excellent interview compiler; he really has a knack for providing helpful context and background for the plays and players he asks Dench to speak on, prompting her to go off, and then getting out of the way and letting her speak. His framing is absolutely excellent, professional and yet friendly.

Judi Dench herself has a remarkable memory and an obvious passion for the plays. Her insights are startling in their simplicity and brilliance. Her words make you wish you were her friend, though they also give the impression that she’s a bit of a public menace. It’s also lovely when she touches upon the giants in the field she’s had the pleasure of working with and knowing.

This would be a wonderful gift to any actor honing their craft. I would also recommend it to any Shakespeare fans at all interested in the thoughts of an actor on the plays.

Judi Dench is *the* queen and this interview style book covers her incomparable career as *the* Shakespeare player with wit and wisdom. I loved reading this book and would read it again.

Just when I think I couldn’t love someone more, Dame Judi Dench comes out with a stunning memoir about one of my favourite playwrights.

The book chronicles all Dench’s Shakespearian roles (Cleopatra, Ophelia, Lady Macbeth, etc.), discussing the specific productions and her thought process when crafting the characters.

The audiobook was especially wonderful as Dench recited parts of these roles. It gave me goosebumps.

I’d encourage anyone who thinks they can’t understand Shakespeare to listen to Dame Judi’s narration. Her phrasing and intonation will fill in any gaps of comprehension.

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for this dramatic ARC.

4.5 stars

This book started as a series of interviews between actor/director Brendan O'Hea and Dame Judi Dench, about the many Shakespeare parts Dench has played. O'Hea's plan was to donate the tapes to the archives department at Shakespeare's Globe. O'Hea's chats with Dench were so entertaining that he decided to condense them into a book. I had access to both the written book and the audiobook (which is delightful)!

Dame Judi Dench, born in 1934, is considered one of Britain's greatest actresses. Dench's talent and versatility led to appearances on stage, in films, and on television, but she's most revered for her roles in Shakespeare's plays. The plays discussed, and Judi's roles, are: Macbeth (Lady Macbeth); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Titania, Hermia, First Fairy); Twelfth Night (Viola, Maria); The Merchant of Venice (Portia); Hamlet (Ophelia, Gertrude); Coriolanus (Volumnia); As You Like It (Phebe); Measure For Measure (Isabella); Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice); King Lear (Regan, Cordelia, Goneril); The Comedy of Errors (Adriana); Richard II (Queen Isabel); Antony and Cleopatra (Cleopatra); Cymbeline (Imogen); All's Well That Ends Well (Countess of Roussillon); Henry V (Katherine, Hostess); The Merry Wives of Windsor (Mistress Quickly, Anne Page); Richard III (Duchess of York); The Winter's Tale (Hermione, Perdita, Paulina, Time); and Romeo and Juliet (Juliet). Quite a resume!!

Interspersed with discussions about specific plays are miscellaneous chapters, including: Stratford-Upon-Avon; Play; Company; Fireside Ramblings; Rose Theatre; Failure; Rehearsal; Critics; Shakespeare's Language; Audience; Changing Times; Future of Shakespeare; and Advice. In addition the audiobook concludes with a fun 'off the cuff' talk between O'Hea and Dench.

Though I've seen some Shakespeare productions, I'll admit I looked up synopses of the plays being discussed, to familiarize myself with the plots and characters. Thus the book was a twofer for me - Judi Dench's memoir and a bit of a primer on Shakespeare. Prompted by O'Hea, Dench discusses the plays' plots, language, staging, costumes, cast, directors, relevance, mishaps, and more, and Judi is knowledgeable, fun, introspective, philosophical, practical, honest....all kinds of good things. Dench also gives us a glimpse of her personal life, with anecdotes about her parents; her husband Michael (Mikey) Williams, her daughter Finty, and people she's met and worked with during her long career.

I'll give examples of the chitchat, to provide a feel for the book.

Macbeth

Speaking about Lady Macbeth, Dench opines: "Macbeth needs a push, and with the help of the spirits his wife is the one to do it. She is the spur that pricks him on....She's not interested [in being the Queen]....She does it for him....towards what she believes to be his due."

On a light note, thinking about doing the play in Africa, and acting outside in the heat, Judi recalls, "I remember seeing vultures sitting in the trees and I said to the actors, 'For God's sake, twitch when you're dead, they're waiting to eat us."

Stratford-Upon-Avon

Asked about Stratford-Upon-Avon, Dench observes, "In all the memories I have, that's where my heart is. It's where I feel centered. So much of what Shakespeare talks about in his plays can be referenced to the countryside around Stratford....We (Judi and her husband Michael) lived there for ten years and Fint (Judi's daughter Finty) grew up there. And Michael is buried in the grounds of the little church."

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Thinking about the play, Dench says, "Titania and Oberon are so randy. They're at it like knives. You never see that in productions, do you? All the fairies should be humping each other throughout." LOL

Company

Dench loves being in a production company. Speaking about the Old Vic, Judi says, "It was thrilling being able to have a walk-on part in one production, play a character in another, understudy in something else. I loved being a cog in this great big community."

Much Ado About Nothing

Talking about the Bard, Dench observes "There's something for everybody in Shakespeare. Everything you have felt or are yet to feel is all there in his plays: oppression, ambition, loneliness, remorse, [jealousy, love] everything."

For instance, in Much Ado About Nothing, the character Beatrice doesn't want to get married. Dench observes, "She's down on her knees every night praying it'll never happen. Who needs a man? Who wants to be accountable to a 'clod of wayward marl'? After the passion of the wooing and the solemnity of the wedding, it's all downhill. She has such a bleak view of matrimony."

King Lear

Dench has been in King Lear three times, at the Old Vic, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and on the radio. She remembers, "John Gielgud was Lear in the radio version and we were recording it to celebrate his ninetieth birthday." When asked if Gielgud was good as King Lear, Judi says, "I've no idea. With radio, you only ever tend to record your own scenes....and I never heard the full production when it was aired. But I adored him so much, he could have played Bo Peep and I would have thought it was superlative."

The Comedy of Errors

A scene in this play reminds Dench of an incident in her own life. She observes, "[My husband] Mikey and I had some friends over for lunch at our house. He took a few of them down the pub for a drink, while the rest of us stayed home and cooked. I told Mikey to be back by two and when they didn't turn up on time we locked the doors and started eating. They did eventually appear....and we took absolutely no notice. They had to get a ladder and climb in through the bedroom window."

Critics

Talking about critics, Dench notes, "Caryl Brahms never liked anything I did. She was vitriolic, and clearly allergic to me....[she] always had the knife in me - never once gave me a good notice." Judi goes on, "In the early days I used to read every word of my reviews, but I don't have any truck with them any more....If you read something negative, you start worrying and get self-conscious...And a positive review can bring its own problems....The audience comes with very high expectations and you're under pressure to live up to them."

Richard III

In Richard III, Dench plays Richard's mother, the Duchess of York. Asked how she got the part, Judi says, "I was at the Hay Festival being interviewed by Richard Eyre. Ben Cumberbatch was sitting in the front row and when it came to the audience asking questions, he put up his hand and said, 'Will you play my mother in Richard III?' And I said, 'Oh yeah, I expect so.'....so the way to get me to do something is to shout it out in front of a big crowd!"

In the play, Richard murders his way to the throne, and Dench (as his mother) demonstrates her horror in the following speech:

O ill-dispersing wind of misery.

O my accursed womb, the bed of death.

A cockatrice hast though hatched to the world,

Whose unavoided eye is murderous.

Dench observes, "You don't half tell a story in that speech. It's four lines of enormous information - and extreme alarm."

Future of Shakespeare

Dench believes Shakespeare will always be relevant. She says "Shakespeare's words will continue to exist because he's part of our everyday language. How often do we unwittingly quote him?" 'As good luck would have it; what's done is done; fair play; eaten me out of house and home', and more.

Judi hopes people will still be performing Shakespeare's plays in fifty years. She says, "What we need are teachers, directors, and actors to ignite the pilot light....Shakespeare is an international language, a beacon for humanity, and a bridge across cultures."

*****

I learned a good bit about Shakespeare's plays, as well as Judi Dench's career, from this book. You don't need to be a Shakespeare expert, or even a Shakespeare fan to enjoy the narrative because O'Hea and Dench are interesting and fun in and of themselves. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, Brendan O'Hea, Judi Dench, and St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for copies of the book.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy. All thoughts are my own.

I love Shakespeare. I love actors talking about their art. I love discovering new things in old stories. So, when I saw this book come through my inbox, I had to read it. It was such a wonderful, joyful celebration of classical theatre and our modern outlook on plays that have been produced for centuries. I love the history, the speculation, the interpretation. It makes me so happy and really gets my brain moving. I had a blast reading this book and if you’re a Shakespeare nerd or just someone who loves theatre, I highly recommend it!

Synopsis:

“Discover the work of the greatest writer in the English language as you’ve never encountered it before by preordering Judi Dench’s Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent – one legendary actress’ inspiring, moving and brilliant journey through the plays of William Shakespeare.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.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Personal Nature of the Writing—I loved how close Judi was the characters she played. I loved how she delved into moments of her personal life and where she was, physically and mentally, while working on these characters. Her relationships with directors and famous companies! It was so wonderful. Informative and personal.

An Acting Masterclass—My favorite part of hearing from my favorite actors is getting insight into how their brains see the text. I learned so much that I can’t wait to apply to my own work.

Conversational, Entertaining Structure—This is an easy book to read and enjoy, whether you are a Shakespeare fan or not. It’s such a joyful listen, if you can get the audiobook. It feels conversational and Judi’s giggle is so precious.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

Nothing, I loved this book so much. It was a pure joy to read and reignited a love for Shakespeare and, acting in general, that I’ve let fall to the wayside.

Character Authenticity: N/A Spice Rating: N/A Overall Rating: 5/5

Content Warnings:

anything mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays that could be tough for you!

In a series of candid conversations with actor and director Brendan O'Hea, Dame Judi Dench shares her personal experiences portraying iconic Shakespearean roles, from Lady Macbeth to Cleopatra. With incisive clarity and a mischievous sense of humor, she offers invaluable insights into her rehearsal process, interpretation of famous scenes, and the joys and challenges of bringing Shakespeare's characters to life.
Dame Judi regales readers with delightful backstage shenanigans and memorable anecdotes from her illustrious career. Her witty observations on audiences, critics, and the camaraderie of the rehearsal room add depth and humor to this captivating narrative.

Spend some time with the greatest English writer and one of Britain's greatest actresses! “Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent” by Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea is a fascinating collection of conversations about the plays of William Shakespeare. Dame Judi Dench colorfully and freely describes her experiences acting in Shakespeare plays at the highest level. She is definitely a legend, and she’s also friendly and relatable, which is what makes this book so special.

In Ms. Dench’s words, “Shakespeare belongs to everybody. And we must allow who we are as individuals to color our interpretation of his words: everybody’s upbringing and life experiences are different, and that needs celebrating and bringing to the plays. You’ve got to find out what his words mean for you.”

I enjoyed this book. I would suggestion that you read it in small bites. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.

In this novel has beautifully given more insight into Judy Dench, her career as an actress, and her interpretations of Shakespeare. As a university student currently in another Shakespeare course, the stories Judy Dench has told through her time in Shakespeare productions in this novel has completely renewed and emblazoned both my appreciation for Shakespeare and my love for theater.

Brendan O'Hea writes Dench's many relatable behind the scenes tales and intriguing characterizations as an actress. He elegantly brings us into the mind and world of the delightful Judy Dench as we learn more about what it was really like for her to be such well-known Shakespearean actress and how it helped bring her career to new heights.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Two things that I adore are Shakespeare and Dame Judi Dench, so I couldn't wait to read this book. While it was fun to read about her experiences and feelings about all things Shakespeare and Shakespeare adjacent-like living in Stratford-upon-Avon, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed in the formatting of the book. It was done in a more "interview" type style and after reading the intro discovered that it was transcripts that Brendan O'Hea did of his conversations with Dench. I've read other reviews that said the audio version was more enjoyable but still a little lacking. Perhaps if it was written in a more memoir-type style it would be more engaging.

Overall, I'd recommend for anyone who loves Shakespeare and/or Dame Judi Dench since it was still fun to hear her stories in her words.

I really enjoyed this book. It is always great to hear interpretations of Shakespeare. How this was so intertwined with her life was great to hear. Would recommend to any Dan of Judi Dench or Shakespeare

I like Dame Judi Dench and wanted to learn more via this book because I never got into Shakespeare. I tried and tried but it was a struggle.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.