Would anybody like a thread to chat about Shakespeare?

I love the idea of this thread.
Personally, I really enjoy reading Shakespeare. It’s poetry innit? Plus I like to know the play well before I see it, then I can focus on the interpretation of the particular production I’m watching rather than trying to work out what they’re going on about.
I’m going to see Christopher Ecclestone in Macbeth soon at the RSC. I’ve seen some people on here say it’s not that good, but I don’t care because I love the play and I love him.

Did anyone see that Hamlet from the Almeida with Andrew Scott (Moriarty from Sherlock) in it? It was on the TV recently. I thought it was good. He made me cry!
Plus who is your favourite female Shakespeare character? I like Beatrice.

Anthony Hopkins is Lear on BBC2 tomorrow night! Saw a trailer earlier. Emma T's in it too and looks like a modern adaptation. God I love Lear.

Also love this thread. I'll be back with more! Thanks OP

Following this with interest!

I love Lear, saw a magnificent RSC version a few years ago now where it rained on stage (special effect, not outdoor theatre!)

I imagine the Hopkins one is good, I'll TiVo it

I know what you mean about a level though. I did Othello and when I went to see all production a few years ago I realised I still knew a lot of the words and couldn't really enjoy it

I also love measure for measure.

Don't go to the theatre nearly enough but would love to get some suggestions.
Any R+J Luhrman fans might like this, tickets.secretcinema.org (unless we are more high brow in this thread )

I find both Lear and Othello rather silly. My favourites are Macbeth and The Tempest.

keira That's good to know. I'm hoping to go but not sure if I'll manage it.

I remember enjoying the film of AMND but it's a while since I watched it.

Lear isn't one of my favourites TBH. It was one of my A level texts and I had to study it again at university. I've seen a few good productions over the years but I could live quite happily without seeing it again, I think. But that's just me, I know it is a favourite for lots of people.
I haven't seen that film version so I can't say if it's worth watching.

BBC2 are showing King Lear tomorrow night with Anthony Hopkins & Emma Thompson.

Beatrice - if you are a Malfi fan, I can't recommend the current RSC production too highly. It's genuinely fabulous.

(English teacher and Elizabethan/Jacobean nerd here.)

I went to see A Midsummer Night's Dream (college production) twice this week as my youngest was playing Lysander. It isn't my favourite play but it is enjoyable when well done.

What warmed my heart was that, both nights, there was a little girl of about seven or eight on the front row laughing away and really enjoying herself. It reminded me that I saw my first Shakespeare play aged seven. My dad, who was a theatre critic and went to the theatre a lot, took me. It was The Comedy of Errors. I was really lucky to be taken to the theatre often as a child.

I don't have one single favourite - it depends what I've just seen/read. At the moment I'm reading Much Ado, which is definitely one of my favourites.

I also like a lot of plays by contemporaries of Shakespeare such as Middleton, Jonson and Webster. For example, I love Webster's The Duchess of Malfi and Middleton's The Changeling. (For anyone who knows the latter play, my user name would have given them a clue. )