Shakespeare in the Theatre

William Poel (1852–1934), actor, director, author and founder of the Elizabethan Stage Society, believed that only by returning to Elizabethan performance methods would it be possible to truly understand Shakespeare's plays. This work, published in 1913, explores this philosophy by bringing together a number of articles on staging Shakespeare.

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William Poel (1852–1934), actor, director and author, began his acting career in 1876, deliberately choosing provincial touring in order to learn his craft. After a period as manager of the Royal Victoria Hall and Coffee Tavern (later the Old Vic), he worked as stage manager for the actor-manager Frank Benson. In the 1890s he founded the Elizabethan Stage Society in order to demonstrate his fervent belief that only a return to Elizabethan performance methods would enable a true understanding of Shakespeare's plays. This was to have a profound influence on modern productions, with directors such as Tyrone Guthrie and John Gielgud adopting his ideals rather than his often idiosyncratic practices. Moreover, his long-held wish for a replica of the Globe Theatre has since become a reality. Poel was also a prolific author and this work, first published in 1913, explores his philosophy by bringing together four articles on the staging of Shakespeare.