Shakespeare's Strangest Tales
A quirky collection of true stories from the weird and wonderful world of Shakespearean theatre, featuring distinguished actors falling off stages, fluffed lines, performances in the dark, and why you must never, ever say the name of that Scottish play, especially if you are Peter O'Toole.
A fascinating playbill of stories from the weird and wonderful world of Shakespearean theatre through the centuries, including distinguished actors falling off stages, fluffed lines, performances in the dark, and why you must never, ever say the name of that Scottish play, especially if you are Peter O'Toole. Discover a wealth of Shakespearean shenanigans over the years, including the terrible behaviour of the groundlings at Shakespeare's Globe, how the 'rude mechanicals' in A Midsummer Night's Dream got recast as a bunch of ladies from the WI, and how Dame Maggie Smith got even with Sir Laurence Olivier.
Published to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, this treasury of curious tales is a must-read for all Shakespeare lovers and theatre fans.
Word count: 45,000
Iain Spragg is a London-based journalist and author with more than 15 years experience. His books include Twickenham: 100 Years Of Rugby’s HQ, The London Underground’s Strangest Tales, The Official Team GB and Paralympics GB Fact File and The Reduced History Of Rugby. His next book is The River Thames’ Strangest Talesand he currently writes for MSN UK, The International Rugby Board and the Football League.