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!

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.