The Shakespearian fallacies of John Barton

Abstract

John Barton is as old as the Royal Shakespeare Company — a bit older in fact. He has been connected with it since 1960 and has served as an Associate Director since 1964. He has directed close to thirty productions and, for over three decades, has been a pervasive influence on its acting company. He was brought into the organisation by its founder Peter Hall, functioned regularly throughout the reign of Trevor Nunn and remained ensconced under the recent regime of director Terry Hands. A Cambridge don and a recognised authority on Shakespeare, Barton has been the single greatest influence on English verse-speaking for three generations of British actors.