"This book draws back the curtain and shows how the antique machinery of Shakespeare’s theatre works, helping the director to prepare for the myriad challenges they will face in mounting a production. The imaginative time frame begins the moment you learn you’ll be directing a play by Shakespeare. Our narrative clock starts ticking from the point you put down the phone and stops when you arrive at the rehearsal hall to begin your first table read. So much of what will be the success or failure of a director’s production rests on this work that is done before rehearsals even begin." --