Iambic Pentameter for Actors
“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” “Is this the face that launched a thousand ships?” “Awake, arise or be forever fallen.” Iambic pentameter has flavoured some of the greatest writing in the history...
Shakespeare
Shakespeare has always been a major focus here at StageMilk. Working with Shakespearean text is essential for any actor! He is heralded for being the best playwright of all time, and for good reason. Both actors and theatremakers across the globe are enthralled and intrigued by William Shakespeare and his plays. For that reason, we have a great deal of Shakespeare resources and information, all of which can be found here.
For more about William Shakespeare himself, click here.
For a list of the best Shakespeare plays, click here.
Queen Margaret Monologue (Act 1, Scene 3)
Let’s break down Queen Margaret’s monologue from Act 1 Scene 3 of Richard the III. One of Shakespeares best known villains, Richard the III titular play is one filled with family drama, politics, war, cutting...
Best Shakespeare Comedy Roles
Can you remember the first time you laughed during a Shakespeare play? Like, absolutely cackled at something—so much you forgot the writer had been dead for 400 years? It’s a special moment: one where you discover...
Best Twelfth Night Monologues
Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s most joyous plays. It is a tale of love and loss, set in the mystical land of Illyria. The events of the story take place in the fabled 12...
Antony and Cleopatra Monologues
Arguably one of Shakespeares best love stories can be found in Antony and Cleopatra and today we’ve compiled a list of what we believe to be the best Antony and Cleopatra monologues for actors and...
Two Gentlemen of Verona Monologues
Today we’re going to take a look at some monologues from The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Many consider The Two Gentlemen of Verona to be Shakespeare’s first play, most likely written sometime around 1589-1593 (but more...
The Winter’s Tale
The Winter’s Tale is often an underestimated play in Shakespeare’s canon. However, I believe this intriguing work is definitely worth exploring. The Winter’s Tale often referred to as one of the Bard’s problem plays, as it...
King John
King John is often the forgotten Shakespeare play, believed to have been written sometime around the mid 1590’s, and based on true events. At its core, Shakespeare’s King John is a play about identity, loyalty,...
Five Essential Books on Acting Shakespeare
Playwright Tom Stoppard, after seeing the actor Simon Russell Beale in The Winter’s Tale, astutely said to him, “Shakespeare exercises all your muscles—doesn’t he.” That might sound daunting to some actors, and I’ve known a...
In What Order Should I Read Shakespeare?
If you suddenly found yourself stranded on a deserted island, with only a single book to keep you entertained between peeling open coconuts and rock fishing to keep yourself alive, you could do worse than...