Celebrating Shakespeare this Summer! By Maddie Voke THEN Back in 2007 a unique collaboration between Palgrave Macmillan and the Royal Shakespeare Company began with the publication of the RSC Complete Works. Critically acclaimed from the outset with praise from actors, literary critics and Shakespeare lovers alike, it has become the bestselling version of the Complete Works on the market. Five years, and more than 30 books later, we have completed our goal to publish fresh new editions of Shakespeare’s plays, full of the insight that can only come from working with one of the world’s best known theatre companies, combined with an editorial team at the cutting edge of Shakespeare scholarship in the shape of Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen. Through the close involvement of the RSC, we’ve brought you unique access into performances of Shakespeare from over the last 130 years, and rare perspectives on being involved in a Shakespeare production from some of the key players. We’ve brought you David Tennant’s thoughts on what Romeo’s epitaph should be; Sam Mendes on the challenges of directing the inhuman humans of The Tempest; Fiona Shaw on being ‘kingly’ (or not) in Richard II; Michael Boyd on which of three Hamlets to direct; new Artistic Director of the RSC, Gregory Doran, on making audiences believe again in Macbeth; and many more.
NOW At the heart of the RSC series has always been the belief that Shakespeare’s plays were written to be performed, not read. This makes 2012 the perfect year to publish the final plays in the series as the first World Shakespeare Festival* begins. A celebration of Shakespeare as the world’s playwright, the festival is produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, in an unprecedented collaboration with leading UK and international arts organisations, and with Globe to Globe, a major international programme produced by Shakespeare’s Globe.
To celebrate the festival and mark the publication of the final plays in the RSC series we will be publishing a special gift edition of Shakespeare’s most magical and energetic play (within-a-play!) A Midsummer Night’s Dream. With a brand new foreword from Comedian Marc Wootton (on presenting his ‘Bottom’) and in a gift-friendly size with a beautiful new jacket it perfectly captures the celebratory spirit of summer 2012.
To pre-order a copy of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and find out more about the RSC series visit www.palgrave.com/RSC Summer 2012 RRP: £4.99
*The World Shakespeare Festival runs from 23 April to November 2012 and forms part of London 2012 Festival, which is the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad, bringing leading artists from all over the world together in a UK-wide festival in the summer of 2012. For more information visit: www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk