If you enjoy Shakespeare, you’ll appreciate this behind-the-scenes look at his plays through the eyes of someone who has lived them. Dench shares her unique decades long perspective on Shakespeare’s characters, dialogue, and plot points as well as a master class in stage acting. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for a review.

My thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It was a slow starter but if one stays with it you will be rewarded. It is an excellent view of Shakespeare’s most memorable female roles as well as insight into some of the memorable male leads Dame Judi Dench has performed with. The dialogue with Brendan was a fascinating way of telling the story of a remarkable Shakespearean actress. I highly recommend reading this-it was fantastic!

this book was an absolute joy to read! as someone who's extensively studied shakespeare and adores judi dench, this book was right up my alley. however - i think i would have enjoyed this just as much if i knew nothing about shakespeare or his plays! each play is its own chapter and the plots and characters are explained throughout, so it would be easy to follow along without any prior knowledge.

i also loved having the two different perspectives throughout the book as well. brendan's critical perspective of the plays vs. judi's performance perspective was absolutely fascinating to consider. i loved learning about how judi approaches roles and how actors interpret the plays compared to how others may look at it.

This book is so much fun! I highly recommend it to all lovers of Shakespeare and Judy Dench. She offers so much insight into the plays. I had never considered many of the points she makes about the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

DNF: This was my bad for misinterpreting what this book was. I thought this was more of a memoir of Dench's time on stage, whereas it's actually a series of interviews about her experiences with specific Shakespeare plays, going through essentially line-by-line with the characters she played. I think this would be incredible for someone who has more of a familiarity/appreciation with Shakespeare, but unfortunately, that's not me. Regardless of my lack of engagement with the subject matter, the parts I did read were fun simply for the tone of Dench's words. She's funny, smart, and insightful. Wish I could have gotten into this more.

Shakespeare and Judi Dench... that was all I needed to heart to know that it would be good. The book is relaxed, and Judi Dench is a wealth of knowledge. I read this one, but I'm also very excited to listen to the audio book when it is available. The conversational format works really well in the book and I'm positive it will as wonderful in audio.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital review copy.

I've long admired Judi Dench's work. Her presence in a work is endorsement and promise of a riveting performance. SHAKESPEARE: THE MAN WHO PAYS THE RENT by Judi Dench and Brendan O"Hea covers Dench's performances over a lifetime of plays, more a riveting conversation with veers and asides that bring to life what it was to be on stage, acting and bringing to life stories with passion, intuition, and insight that enriched everyone present. I loved the conversational twists and turns and getting to know a profoundly gifted and frank observer of the arts, people, and the performances shared with style and grace. I enjoyed it immensely, not being a theater aficionado, but I imagine that they will be equally pleased with an inside seat on an extraordinary performance. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

A delightful book with Judi Dench (answering questions from Brendan O'Hea) telling tales of her on and off- stage experiences when she has played various Shakespeare roles. Don’t be intimidated by “Shakespeare”, because this book is laid out in a very easy-going interview style.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent is a delightful read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The book is written in interview style that is so comfortable that you feel that you are sitting in the room with your friends and learning things you didn't know about your friends.

The book is full of antidotes , wisdom , reflections and lessons learned.

I laughed out loud at times and I even felt I should revisit a few Shakespearean works.

Highly recommend you get a copy of Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent and sit back enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the privilege of reading and reviewing this delightful read.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea grew out of a series of interviews O’Hea intended for archival purposes, about Dench’s memories of all her Shakespeare roles. After her grandson overhead them talking, the idea arose to turn their talks into a book, which was a great idea. I enjoyed reading this so very much I didn’t want it to end, and now I’ve realized I should probably find a production of Cymbeline and watch it, as well as the rest of the Henry plays. This is a chatty book (since it originated as actual chatting between old friends) that also is supremely informative about how this particular actor interpreted her parts, and her philosophy on the art of acting, and what she learned from her various mentors. I loved that she would sometimes say she wished she’d play a certain part differently if she did it now. There’s also a fair few anecdotes about productions and working with different directors and actors. If you’re into theatre, or into Shakespeare, or just interested in an entertaining person talking, definitely check this out.

I absolutely gobbled this book up! The amount of insight Dame Judi Dench has, and her way of expressing herself--just, wow!!! Also the dynamic she has with O'Hea is fabulous. I loved it! Dench is so brilliant, articulate, and witty. Her love for life and her brilliance at understanding acting radiates from the page. I know this review has lots of exclamation marks, but I need them to express my love of this work. The illustrations are Dench's own too, which she allowed to be used because they bring awareness to artists with vision challenges, such as herself. There was so much I just didn’t understand about Shakespeare before reading this book, and so many things make so much more sense through her eyes and lived experience. This was the crash course in Shakespeare (from someone in the know) that I didn't know I needed. She is truly young at heart, and I left this book a happier, smarter person than I was when I went into it.

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com and the publisher in return for a fair review. I am a huge fan of Dame Judith Dench. She is a remarkable actress whose career has spanned decades. I couldn't wait to dive in. Imagine my disappointment when I realized that this was not a book at all, but a transcription of oral interviews that Dench gave with her friend, Brendan O'Hea. I feel that O'Hea took the easy way out and just provided Dench's words verbatim instead of weaving them into what could have been a fascinating book. Dench's keen wit shone through time and time again as she discussed the many Shakespearean plays and characters that she breathed life into. Hers is a unique take on an interesting subject. The problem for me was that it became monotonous and certainly did not do the actress the justice she so richly deserves. If you want to know her thoughts about a particular play or character, zero in on that specific interview. Otherwise, you might feel like a did--a little bored and disinterested.

I'm not usually big on reading celebrity memoirs, but I must recommend the new book, 'Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent.' It's a collection of interviews with Judi Dench that were conducted by the actor Brendan O'Hea over the course of four years. They didn't set out to make a book. The plan was to record Dame Judi talking about all of the Shakespeare roles she's played, then put the tapes in the Globe Theatre archive for future generations. But then they realized her wisdom, humor, and passion for the bard was too much to keep in a box, and they made this book.

They called it 'The Man Who Pays the Rent' because that's how Dame Judi and her husband referred to Shakespeare in the 1970s when they did play after play for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The structure of the book is great! Each chapter is Dame Judi's recollections about one play, so you've got Macbeth, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, and on like that — and it's presented in a Q&A format that makes it easy and fun to dip in and out of the book. The way they did the interviews is pretty cool: Brendan O'Hea would read each scene of the play to her, and she would provide a running commentary on Shakespeare's language, her insights from embodying the roles, specific performances, and more. It feels like sitting in a pub with Dame Judi and just letting her awesomeness envelop you.

The first chapter is about playing Lady Macbeth with a theater company that traveled to West Africa in 1963. I'm just going to read you a little bit to give you a taste of what's in this book. If you know Judi Dench's voice and accent, you can hear her saying these words. It's a delight: '... We took the production to Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. Peter Brook maintained that his was the first company to tour West Africa, but in actual fact it was ours. The audiences were wonderful — very vociferous. In the sleep-walking scene a woman shouted out, 'Oh my God, she's washing her hands and there's no basin.' And they loved the rhymes, they found them hilarious. 'The thane of Fife had a wife' got a belter. They'd yell, 'Say that bit again.'

But it's not all laughs; she also shares her deep understanding of Shakespeare's works. In this bit, she explains the scene in which Lady Macbeth reads the letter she's received from her husband: 'What's important is that you establish the couple's passion for each other in this scene. A key line is when Macbeth refers to his wife as 'my dearest partner of greatness.' At a time when women were perhaps not considered so equal — 'dearest partner of greatness' — that's a real clue to their relationship.'

This book is an irresistible combination of dishy behind-the-scenes details from a grand dame of the theater mixed with insights that demystify Shakespeare. It's what I wish classes on the bard could be: fun, fast, and incisive. What a gift that Judi Dench has put her wisdom down in these pages.

I'm recommending this book in the April 26 episode of my podcast The Library of Lost Time - http://strongsenseofplace.com/lolts/lolt-2024-04-26/

I don’t read many memoirs, but I greatly enjoyed this one. Told in a relaxed, conversational manner, Judi Dench describes her lifelong love with Shakespeare, her experiences onstage and off, and her childhood. It’s a treat to get a peek behind the curtain.
Well-written and hard to put down.

I have never been a fan of Shakespeare. I think it goes back to my high school years. I was not interested in listening to the language and the analysis that the teachers wanted to do when I was a teenager. Those experiences have carried over into my adulthood and have made me stray away from anything to do with his works.

I was reluctant to choose this book, but when I saw Judi Dench was an author, I felt I would take a chance on Shakespeare. I am very pleased I took the chance because this was a fabulous book. Not only did I enjoy learning about the various characters she played in Shakespeare's plays, but also her discussions with Brendan O'Hea about the rhyme, the rhythm, and the language used. They discuss all aspects of the plays (wardrobe, scenery, characters, etc.) and how they all come together to create a piece that has been able to carry a message to so many people for over 400 years. It was incredible to learn about the words we use every day penned by Shakespeare. The banter between the two is wonderful and shows their obvious fondness for each other as well as their love of Shakespeare.

SHAKESPEARE: THE MAN WHO PAYS THE RENT was not intended to be a book. It was originally intended to be a conversation between the two authors for the Archive Department of the Globe. Upon further thought, O'Hea felt it would be appealing to those who love theater and Shakespeare and would enjoy hearing about all of the parts Dench has played throughout her long career.

I'm sure reading the book would be delightful in learning the same information I learned while I listened to the audiobook. However, listening to Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea was not like listening to an audiobook. It was more like a conversation between two friends.

CALLING ALL SHAKESPEARE LOVERS OR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE! I know. Shakespeare can certainly be intimidating. I was there. However, once one begins to understand the brilliantly nuanced writing of Shakespeare and the timeless plot lines, a need for more surfaces. Having studied at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre personally, I was completely swept up in this magnificent interview between Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea as they reminisced their countless productions of Shakespeare's plays. What a beautiful tribute to his works, productions, relevancy, and language!!!

"Shakespeare: the Man who Pays the Rent" is an interview with Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea as the interviewer. There are 39 chapters with each devoted to a particular play and Judi's experiences with it. Some chapters cover rehearsals, failures, ramblings, critics, language, advice, and the future of Shakespeare.
Incredible quotes from Judi Dench:
-"Shakespeare will always be relevant because he reflects the times we are living in."
-"Shakespeare's words will continue to exist because he is part of our everyday language. How often do we unwittingly quote him? 'As luck would have it', 'what's done is done', 'fair play', 'eaten me out of house and home' are just some of the phrases which Shakespeare coined. As are the words: 'majestic', 'assassination', 'rant', 'suspicious', obscene', 'lonely'...... oh so many - he invented over seventeen hundred of them".
-"There's something for everybody in Shakespeare. Everything you have felt or are yet to feel is all in there in his plays:oppression, ambition, loneliness, remorse, everything."
-"And his iambic pentameter - the rhythm of it is so to do with...the rhythm of life, the beating of your heart."
-"Shakespeare is an international language, a beacon for humanity, and a bridge across cultures. His writing encompasses the minutiae of everyday life".
- "Verse is there to support you, and if you go with the rhythm and trust it, it's like surfing a wave."

I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE THE AUDIO VERSION OF THIS BOOK to supplement. It is THE WAY to experience it - to truly understand HER experiences. I was smitten with it! It brought Shakespeare back to life for me. Walking through the memories of Judi Dench refreshed all of my own memories with Shakespeare and I adored the candor of both both of these iconic actors.

Many thanks to MacMillan Audio, Judi Dench, Brandon O'Hea, and NetGalley for this audio ARC in exchange for my elated review.

As both a fan of Judi Dench and Shakespeare, this was right up my alley! While I can see how it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, if you're a fan of either/or of the authors then this will be a treat. Thank you!

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!