Shakespeare's Advice to the Actor

Much of Shakespearean instruction is based in modern acting tradition: finding objectives, subtext, and beats in the scene. Acting courses on Shakespearean acting are highly coveted and often expensive––and preparing Shakespearean monologues for auditions can be nerve-wracking and overwhelming. But Fear not, modern actor, take Shakespeare’s advice up! Much can be learned about how to act Shakespeare well from Shakespeare himself.

In the following speech from Hamlet (III.2), Shakespeare explains––through one of his most famous characters––how he recommends his works be performed.

Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to

you, trippingly on the tongue: but if you mouth it,

as many of your players do, I had as lief the

town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air

too much with your hand, thus, but use all gently;

for in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say,

the whirlwind of passion, you must acquire and beget

a temperance that may give it smoothness. O, it

offends me to the soul to hear a robustious

periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to

very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who

for the most part are capable of nothing but

inexplicable dumbshows and noise: I would have such

a fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant*; it

out-herods Herod: pray you, avoid it.

*as according to Merriam-Webster, a deity represented in early English drama as a violent character

Throughout this speech, Shakespeare advocates balance in delivery, physicality, emotion, and telegraphing meaning to the audience. 

His first lesson lies in “trippingly on the tongue.” This phrase conveys that Shakespeare intends for his speech to be relished but not excessively so. When delivering Shakespearean text, fully pronounce the sounds without exaggerating them. Remember that Shakespeare’s text is a form of poetry, includes many poetic devices, and is beautiful on its own. The meter adds a rhythm to the line that does not necessarily have to be followed but can guide the actor through the character’s thought process and suggest to the actor logical spaces to breathe and pause.

His second lesson begins with “use all gently.” His ‘all’ refers to physical gestures made by the actor––and Shakespeare clearly values them, but only in moderation. He warns against excessive or oversized movements that do not serve a specific purpose. Shakespeare introduces the image of “saw[ing] the air/too much with your hand” to illustrate one pitfall of the common gesture: too much gesticulating for emphasis. When gesturing to stress an important thought occurs too frequently, the gesture loses all power of emphasis and becomes simply a distraction.

Shakespeare’s third lesson lies in the contrast between “passion” and “smoothness,” through the link of “temperance.” Shakespeare suggests that passion is consuming and seemingly irresistible to play on stage; however, passion must be balanced to make it natural and understandable to the audience. Often accompanying real-life passion is shouting, violent motions, and often rapid or even garbled speech. To an audience, these physical manifestations of passion may seem excessive and end up unenjoyable––as no one wants to be continually shouted at or frustrated if they cannot make out the words of a monologue of a crying character.

Shakespeare’s fourth lesson appears in the phrase “inexplicable dumbshows and noise” and the verb “o’erdoing.” Shakespeare very explicitly warns against telegraphing meaning to the audience. In modern times, Shakespearean english can be difficult to convey to an audience––but Shakespeare’s advice still rings true. Reliance on the meter, vocabulary, and some carefully chosen physical gestures, (as well as reliance on the intelligence of the audience) will make Shakespeare’s language accessible to almost all audiences. While paying attention to clarifying spoken lines and intention will certainly guide the audience through the play, there is no need to sacrifice Shakespeare’s dramatic integrity to help the audience to understand.

With these quick lessons from the Bard himself, take confidence in Shakespeare’s words, in the audience, and in yourself––and you will put on an Avon-level performance!

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