First ACT Shakespeare is a book about the bard - but one like no other. It is aimed primarily at young and keen Shakespeareans, perhaps those inspired by seeing great performances, students grappling with Shakespeare at school, or those about to set off to drama school. An ideal present for grandparents, parents and friends to give to any of them. 
 
There is a wealth of information within: 
 
concise summaries of the 37 plays, with three dramatic cruxes to be considered and solved before preparing any performance or production.
a Shakespeare sampler presenting key quotations, ideal for learning by heart. These are not the usual suspects, but rather glittering examples of Shakespeare's own thoughts on the world, politics, theatre, death...
play pages and tables with esential facts and rankings: length, balance of roles, degrees of difficulty, number of sets...
comments on the ever-vexed authorship question.
 
The book is splendidly illustrated - by Clive Francis - with great Shakespearean performances, and has a foreword from Ian McKellen.
 
"Here is a guide to any of us planning to embark on a Shakepeare voyage... practical and illuminating in every chapter. As you read them all, you will want to discover those plays you don't yet know.
 
If you are further encouraged to be involved in bringing one of them to life onstage, Robert's scholarship and imagination will have been rewarded.
 
Happy reading, happy acting and happy theatre-going." - Ian McKellen