John Barton, playwright and distinguished director with the Royal Shakespeare Company, is returning to Cambridge for the University's Alumni Weekend, to give the English Faculty's session on 'Text and Performance'.

The legendary Shakespearean director and co-founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company has directed, co-directed, adapted, or written more than 35 stage productions throughout the course of his prolific career. He is widely known for his workshops, through which actors study the handling of Shakespearean text. His book Playing Shakespeare (and the accompanying video series) is used extensively in both literature and acting curriculums.

Last year John returned to Cambridge's ADC Theatre after an absence of 40 years to stage a production of his highly acclaimed one-man show, Le Morte D'Arthur. Proceeds from the event went to the English Faculty's fundraising campaign.

Whilst reading English as an undergraduate, John was taught by George Rylands, and as Dean of King's College passed his theatrical experience on to later generations, including the Marlowe group in the latter half of the '60s. It was during this time that Peter Hall first approached him with the idea of setting up the Royal Shakespeare Company, asking John to be Assistant Director upon its foundation in 1959. For the next three decades John was Associate Director and worked with some of Britain's finest actors, including Peggy Ashcroft, Judi Dench, Jeremy Irons, Ben Kingsley, Ian McKellen and Peter O'Toole.

"We are very fortunate that we are able to attract such distinguished speakers each year. The programme for 2002 has proved very popular but there are still places on many events. Staff of the University are very welcome to attend the Alumni Weekend lectures on Saturday 28 September, although the main lecture by David Starkey is now fully booked," says Alumni Weekend Co-Ordinator Jenny Jardine.

The John Barton lecture takes place at 2.45pm on Saturday 28 September on the Sidgwick Site. For further information on John Barton’s lecture and other events, please check the Alumni Weekend website,
or contact Jo Cooney at the Alumni Office:
Tel: (01223) 332874
email jlc47@cam.ac.uk


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