From Courts to Dungeons: Classical Monologues for Men and Women
Book Signing and Launch: June 2nd, 2018
Book Signing and Launch: June 2nd, 2018
This is my new book for actors, educators, and theatre makers. It's a classical monologue collection with a unique angle, tackling the issues of race and gender in the casting of classical drama and unifying speeches from the world of Elizabethan and Jacobean drama by setting.
Each speech comes from a character fighting for justice in a court of law or languishing in a prison cell. It's the first time a classical monologue book has examined the criminal justice system from the sharp end of the Elizabethan worldview.
"A treasure trove of diverse moods and woes from Shakespeare and his contemporaries. A great collection of self-contained monologues."
Dathan B. Williams, Associate Artistic Director, Harlem Shakespeare Festival.
“This book is a must have for actors auditioning for classical theatre today. A succinct and approachable introduction to classical text, theatre audition technique, and modern casting/performance considerations. I can't imagine a more needed monologue book, especially for women.”
Jennifer Sandella, Artistic Director, Random Access Theatre.
"What a breath of fresh air this book is! Jago has taken classical monologues out of mothballs and made them relevant, urgent, and accessible to all. Actors will love it. Directors and casting directors will be happy this book landed in the hands of their auditionees."
Sabra Williams, Actor & Founding Director of The Actors' Gang Prison Project.
“This is an incredible collection. The next time you’re looking for a classical monologue, you need look no further than this book. I can’t wait to see the next edition because this kind of treasure trove demands a sequel.”
Rob Nagle, Actor & Co-Artistic Director, Antaeus Theatre Company.
“An invaluable resource of classical material for student actors and professionals alike.”
Suzanne Hunt, Co-Artistic Director, Classical Theatre Lab, Los Angeles.
“This excellent selection of classical monologues has all the hard work taken out. Jago’s notes and analysis provide brilliant tips for actors, as well as valuable insight about what it feels like to be on the casting director’s side of the desk.”
Dr. Bernie C. Byrnes, Community Projects Manager, New Theatre Royal, England.
“Actors seeking powerful, arresting audition material virtually guaranteed to be unfamiliar to casting directors need seek no further than Martin Jago's original, inspired, and eminently useful collection. Bravo!
Stuart W. Howard, Actor & Director.
Each speech comes from a character fighting for justice in a court of law or languishing in a prison cell. It's the first time a classical monologue book has examined the criminal justice system from the sharp end of the Elizabethan worldview.
"A treasure trove of diverse moods and woes from Shakespeare and his contemporaries. A great collection of self-contained monologues."
Dathan B. Williams, Associate Artistic Director, Harlem Shakespeare Festival.
“This book is a must have for actors auditioning for classical theatre today. A succinct and approachable introduction to classical text, theatre audition technique, and modern casting/performance considerations. I can't imagine a more needed monologue book, especially for women.”
Jennifer Sandella, Artistic Director, Random Access Theatre.
"What a breath of fresh air this book is! Jago has taken classical monologues out of mothballs and made them relevant, urgent, and accessible to all. Actors will love it. Directors and casting directors will be happy this book landed in the hands of their auditionees."
Sabra Williams, Actor & Founding Director of The Actors' Gang Prison Project.
“This is an incredible collection. The next time you’re looking for a classical monologue, you need look no further than this book. I can’t wait to see the next edition because this kind of treasure trove demands a sequel.”
Rob Nagle, Actor & Co-Artistic Director, Antaeus Theatre Company.
“An invaluable resource of classical material for student actors and professionals alike.”
Suzanne Hunt, Co-Artistic Director, Classical Theatre Lab, Los Angeles.
“This excellent selection of classical monologues has all the hard work taken out. Jago’s notes and analysis provide brilliant tips for actors, as well as valuable insight about what it feels like to be on the casting director’s side of the desk.”
Dr. Bernie C. Byrnes, Community Projects Manager, New Theatre Royal, England.
“Actors seeking powerful, arresting audition material virtually guaranteed to be unfamiliar to casting directors need seek no further than Martin Jago's original, inspired, and eminently useful collection. Bravo!
Stuart W. Howard, Actor & Director.
To Play or Not to Play: 50 Games for Acting Shakespeare by Martin Jago
with a foreword by Alfred Molina
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Martin Jago at his recent book launch, Samuel French on Sunset Blvd., Hollywood.
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What Industry Experts Say:
An intelligent book that combines an advanced methodology for understanding how Shakespeare's language works with an accessibility that will appeal to experienced theater arts educators and those students who are serious about the Bard.
- Jonathan Moscone, Artistic Director, California Shakespeare Theater
An insightful and essential guide for actors, directors, teachers and anyone interested in Shakespeare.
- Guy Roberts, Artistic Director, Prague Shakespeare Festival
Mr Jago has put together some wonderful exercises but what's most extraordinary about what Mr Jago has done is that virtually all the work here is based on the text, not superfluous theatre games! "Character is in the text, is made of the text, and is born out of the text." Succinct and exactly right!
- Marco Barricelli, Artistic Director, Shakespeare Santa Cruz
The author invites us on a journey from Shakespeare zero to Shakespeare hero...a must-have manual for students and professionals alike.
- Professor Paul McDonald, Chair of Creative Industries, University of Nottingham, U.K.
Jago sets out a practical no-nonsense approach to the language of Shakespeare, and his exercises are highly beneficial in the classroom or in rehearsal. I highly recommend it.
- Mike Pacey, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for MA Performance, University of Central Lancashire, U.K.
Jago's approach is clear, understandable, and most of all, fun! This book is a serious resource for those who are serious about the craft of acting.
- Lois Hunter, Theatre Department Chair, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
- Jonathan Moscone, Artistic Director, California Shakespeare Theater
An insightful and essential guide for actors, directors, teachers and anyone interested in Shakespeare.
- Guy Roberts, Artistic Director, Prague Shakespeare Festival
Mr Jago has put together some wonderful exercises but what's most extraordinary about what Mr Jago has done is that virtually all the work here is based on the text, not superfluous theatre games! "Character is in the text, is made of the text, and is born out of the text." Succinct and exactly right!
- Marco Barricelli, Artistic Director, Shakespeare Santa Cruz
The author invites us on a journey from Shakespeare zero to Shakespeare hero...a must-have manual for students and professionals alike.
- Professor Paul McDonald, Chair of Creative Industries, University of Nottingham, U.K.
Jago sets out a practical no-nonsense approach to the language of Shakespeare, and his exercises are highly beneficial in the classroom or in rehearsal. I highly recommend it.
- Mike Pacey, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for MA Performance, University of Central Lancashire, U.K.
Jago's approach is clear, understandable, and most of all, fun! This book is a serious resource for those who are serious about the craft of acting.
- Lois Hunter, Theatre Department Chair, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Also From Publishers Smith and Kraus
ESL Shakespeare: 101 Everyday Phrases by Martin Jago
With this book, Martin Jago has created an accessible and valuable resource to help integrate Shakespeare into our teaching and learning of English. Drawing on a career working with Shakespeare in the theatre, he has identified a wealth of everyday phrases and idioms that originated with Shakespeare - "fight fire with fire," "in a pickle," "wild goose chase," and 98 others. This book will not only offer light, supplementary material for intermediate to advanced level students, it will also provide exposure to some of thepractical, everyday language that animates English conversation around the world.
With this book, Martin Jago has created an accessible and valuable resource to help integrate Shakespeare into our teaching and learning of English. Drawing on a career working with Shakespeare in the theatre, he has identified a wealth of everyday phrases and idioms that originated with Shakespeare - "fight fire with fire," "in a pickle," "wild goose chase," and 98 others. This book will not only offer light, supplementary material for intermediate to advanced level students, it will also provide exposure to some of thepractical, everyday language that animates English conversation around the world.
Plays:
Recent work includes:
2017 - Kings of Dalston.
Set in modern day London and based in part on King Lear.
2016 - Chekhov in Love,
An adaptation for stage of Chekhov short stories on the theme of Love.
MacGregor and Beth,
A play for young people based in part on Macbeth.
Named one of the top 100 plays at The Bruntwood Prize, the U.K's largest annual playwriting competition.
Plays for Children and Young Audiences:
House, Hide & Seek, and Guto for U.K. based Spectacle Theatre Company;
Neighbours for Little London's West End production of After Chekhov, Soho Theatre,
One of those People, Salem K Theatre Company/Matrix Theatre, Los Angeles.
2017 - Kings of Dalston.
Set in modern day London and based in part on King Lear.
2016 - Chekhov in Love,
An adaptation for stage of Chekhov short stories on the theme of Love.
MacGregor and Beth,
A play for young people based in part on Macbeth.
Named one of the top 100 plays at The Bruntwood Prize, the U.K's largest annual playwriting competition.
Plays for Children and Young Audiences:
House, Hide & Seek, and Guto for U.K. based Spectacle Theatre Company;
Neighbours for Little London's West End production of After Chekhov, Soho Theatre,
One of those People, Salem K Theatre Company/Matrix Theatre, Los Angeles.