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A Piece of Work

Playing Shakespeare and Other Stories

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A Piece of Work

By: Simon Russell Beale
Narrated by: Simon Russell Beale
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About this listen

 'Extraordinary. A fabulous read' SIMON SCHAMA

'Wonderful. He writes with eloquence and wit' NICHOLAS HYTNER

Simon Russell Beale is one of Britain's most recognisable and well-loved actors. He has played many roles on stage, film, television and radio - ranging from Winston Churchill to Stalin, George Smiley to King Arthur. But ever since his appearance at school as a glamorous Desdemona, complete with false eyelashes that rendered him half-blind, he has been captivated by Shakespeare.

In A Piece of Work, Russell Beale tries to get under the skin of the playwright and find out what interested him. Was Shakespeare an instinctive 'conservative' or, rather, gently subversive? How collaborative was he? Did he add a line to Hamlet in order to accommodate his ageing and increasingly chubby principal actor, Richard Burbage? Did he suffer from insomnia and experience sexual jealousy?

Russell Beale describes what it is to approach and live with some of Shakespeare's most famous characters. Some of the actor's inspiration comes from surprising sources. Watching Coronation Street gave him an idea for how Richard III might react on hearing of the death of the two Princes in the Tower; a visit to elderly patients in a local hospital gave him insights into King Lear's descent into madness; and the memory of childhood family holidays led him to a spectacular plunge into an ornamental pool in Much Ado About Nothing.

Funny and touching about his family, Russell Beale also writes fascinatingly about some of the supremely creative people he counts as his friends - including Sam Mendes, Nick Hytner, Stephen Sondheim and Lauren Bacall.

A Piece of Work is a brilliant account of an actor's life and work - and his relationship with our foremost dramatist.

Shortlisted for the 2025 Theatre Book Award©2024 Simon Russell Beale (P)2024 Hachette Audio UK Art & Literature Authors Literary History & Criticism Royalty Funny Shakespeare Celebrity
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Simon Russell Beale is not only a brilliant actor but an intelligent and knowledgeable author whose humanity is palpable

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Simon Russel Beale has written (and read) a fascinating account of his life and experience of performing Shakespeare and all without being ‘a lovey actor’. While he does mention famous names this is invariably in the strict context of work. His analysis of the characters he has played is insightful and while you may not always agree with them are still fascinating. If you love Shakespeare, you will enjoy this and his voice (as always) is fabulous.

Fascinating and fabulous

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Anyone who has enjoyed Simon Russell Beale’s work on stage and screen will relish this modestly expressed but profound insight into playing major Shakespearean roles. His compassionate, humane and often humorous reflections on the evolution of his process will offer any aspiring performer a sound guide to developing their own technique and approach to playing a complex character. But what stands out is the autobiographical account he expertly weaves into the narrative. While the book is essentially an account of the physical and emotional demands of portraying Hamlet, Lear, Falstaff and many others, he is equally candid about his childhood, family and colleagues - even his critics are given due consideration and respect. Every aspect of his career is lucidly detailed: if it weren’t enough to envy his acting talent, we now have to contend with his skill as a remarkable writer of memoir. His intellectual curiosity and loyalty to his friends make him a thoroughly engaging narrator as he takes every opportunity to explore (often radical) creative possibilities and extol the contribution of his collaborators. There lies within this record of his struggles and achievements, the subtle but invigorating manifesto of a great champion and advocate of live theatre. And his own voice as narrator casts a spell that means I already miss the company of this generous, witty and remarkably self-aware man.

Shakespeare and so much more

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As above. I gained greater insight into Shakespeare’s skill (genius feels to be an overworked word) and the dedication needed to act at this level.

2 things.. SRB’s modesty and the sensitivity refected in his voice.

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A highly intelligent and perceptive description of the author's experience of working as an actor, mostly in Shakespeare plays.
Very well read, as you'd expect.

Truly interesting

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