Sonnet 138 -- Trevor Nunn coaches David Suchet for master class

This is a chunk of archival gold from British television, circa 1979. As part of an "in-studio master class" on speaking Shakespeare, Trevor Nunn takes actor David Suchet through building a performance out of Sonnet 138

Category:

Education

Tags:

• shakespeare
• sonnet
• trevor nunn
• david suchet
• acting

[vicenteaboites]

Wonderful! ...Birth gave me the language of Borges and Cervantes but life gave me the language of Shakespeare.

[tordieg]

Fantastic, Very helpful, thank you :)

[nickmcnal]

Stupid even know i didnt watch it

[adamjenson4500]

@pmo1983 you can't claim my argument is flawed because I chose a case which you appear to agree is harder than acting, if anything it proves my point more. also, we all know that being a guitarist in a band is hardly as difficult as being a pianist. you have filled you argument with contradictions

[Juvenal4668]

Eye-opening demonstration of how even the best of actors can improve their performance when guided by the best of Shakespearean directors. Thanks, klizuck.

[pmo1983]

@adamjenson4500

Your comparision is flawed- You chose the hardest musical profession

I can play guitar. I would be able to replace most guitarist in most rock bands. I wouldn't be able to replace Vai or Satriani etc

I can talk. I would be able to replace Keanu Reeves. I wouldn't be able to replace Jacobi or Sher etc

A highly trained and skilled actor is the same as a highly trained and skilled musician.

[Lytton333]

@adamjenson4500 Anyone who is literate? Well there ARE literate people in this programme who are performing.. and they're doing a pretty good job of it. They all had to start somewhere.. where did you start in your chosen occupation?

If they were replaced by other literate people would everything change, or remain the same? Would the standard improve, or decline? That is what training is partly for.. to give people technical-skills that cannot be aquired overnight..

[adamjenson4500]

@Efelblumfever Well that is a load of rubbish, anyone who is literate could go up there and give a performance, albeit not perfect but still not completely awful, whereas if you went to a masterclass for pianists and you could play the piano and were able to read music, even to an intermediate standard, you would still be more far likely to come across as absolutely awful compared to if you did an acting masterclass. Case closed.

[Efelblumfever]

This is totally absurd, how can you compare being a musician and being an actor? It takes the same amount of time, talent, and genius to be a great concert pianist as to be a great Shakespearean actor, and the same amount of laziness to do community theater or be in a bad tribute band.

@adamjenson4500

[khi590]

David Suchet has a rather erotic voice...I love it ...Quite something hear him reciting Shakespeare.....

And I love his Poirot acting.....Everything he manages rather perfect...

[adamjenson4500]

acting is so much easier than being a musican, all these people try to make acting seem more difficult than it is.