About the book

How did Shakespeare's plays sound when they were originally performed?

How can we know, and could the original pronunciation ever be recreated?

For three days in June 2005 the Globe theatre, on London’s South Bank, witnessed a production of Romeo and Juliet, in the original Shakespearean pronunciation. David Crystal, language expert and historian, acted as consultant for the actors and director in helping with the language and pronunciation, and throughout rehearsals and performance, he kept a record.

In an unusual blend of autobiography, narrative, and academic content, reflecting the unique nature of the experience, David Crystal recounts the first attempt in over 50 years to mount a full-length Shakespeare play in original pronunciation. Crystal begins by discussing the Globe theatre's approach to 'original practices', which has dealt with all aspects of Elizabethan stagecraft - except pronunciation. A large section is devoted to the nature of the Early Modern English sound system. There are reports of how the actors coped with the task of learning the pronunciation, how it affected their performances and how the audiences reacted.

• An unprecedented exercise in applying linguistics
• Describes a special moment in theatre history
• A rare bridge between linguistic, literary, and theatre studies