Synopsis
Two theatre directors, John Barton of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Michael Bogdanov of the National Theatre, discuss the issues involved in presenting plays written 400 years ago to today's audiences, with actor Michael Pennington and an audience of students. Is it good or bad to update Shakespeare?
Digging for Britain | Shakespeare's First Theatre
Alice visits excavations at Shakespeare's first theatre in London's Shoreditch, where the Bard began his career and Romeo and Juliet was first performed.
Arena | The National Theatre - Learning Zone
Made especially for schools, this version of the BBC Four Arena programme examines the history and purpose of the National Theatre as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Short films on Othello and Hamlet, using both rehearsal and performance footage, consider how the National Theatre takes a contemporary approach to Shakespeare's work.