Shakespeare and Laban - A Practical Guide for Actors, Directors, Students and Teachers

Shakespeare's understanding of performance spaces - particularly that of the Globe - is written into the fabric of his plays. Rudolf Laban's movement practice unlocks the physical expressivity of the performer. This book uses Laban's practice to explore an exciting physical connection to Shakespeare's plays in performance. It provides an outline of Laban's key concepts and practices, a discussion of how these can expand and deepen our understanding of how Shakespeare's plays use space, time, and movement, and a wealth of practical exercises drawn from Laban's techniques. This handbook will prove invaluable for anyone performing, teaching, studying or simply wanting a new way to enjoy Shakespeare's plays in performance.

About the author

Laura Weston is a dancer-choreographer, movement director and Laban practitioner. Her practice combines contemporary dance training with research into Laban's practices. She has taught and directed at Rose Bruford, Mountview, London Studio Centre and the Guildford School of Acting.

Product details

• Authors: Jacquelyn Bessell, Laura Weston
• Assisted by: Simon Russell Beale (Editor), Michael Dobson (Editor), Abigail Rokison-Woodall (Editor)
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 08.01.2026
• EAN: 9781350165052
• ISBN: 978-1-350-16505-2
• No. of pages: 176
• Dimensions: 129 mm x 198 mm x 25 mm
• Weight: 454 g
• Series: Arden Performance Companions
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies