I saw a production of "Hamlet" at our local Edwardian theatre featuring what must have been a very young Mark Rylance in the title role -- and I have the programme to prove it! That would be before the backstage revamp, back when it was still a 'hemp house', and before they installed seats in the 'gods'; I remember sitting on concrete steps up at the top of the auditorium to watch.
I also saw Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet at school, but I'm not sure if that was before or after. What I chiefly remember from the film is the revelation that Romeo's death was not tragically inevitable, as I had always assumes from my knowledge of the story, but unnecessary; I found myself sitting there helplessly willing Juliet to wake up in time.
The Shakespeare I probably enjoyed least was a production of Macbeth I repeatedly fell asleep in. I was chronically short of sleep at the time, but the play obviously completely failed to hold my attention!
I've greatly enjoyed the Shakespeare performed at the Globe Theatre, which manages to make the comedy very funny (doubtless with some judicious cuts, but aided by broad and often bawdy miming), and uses the audience-participation element of the 'groundlings' effectively in crowd scenes. This is one theatre where I think you get better entertainment value from paying five pounds to stand in the open air in front of the stage than you do from a more expensive ticket and a seat (cushion costs extra!)
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I also saw Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet at school, but I'm not sure if that was before or after. What I chiefly remember from the film is the revelation that Romeo's death was not tragically inevitable, as I had always assumes from my knowledge of the story, but unnecessary; I found myself sitting there helplessly willing Juliet to wake up in time.
The Shakespeare I probably enjoyed least was a production of Macbeth I repeatedly fell asleep in. I was chronically short of sleep at the time, but the play obviously completely failed to hold my attention!
I've greatly enjoyed the Shakespeare performed at the Globe Theatre, which manages to make the comedy very funny (doubtless with some judicious cuts, but aided by broad and often bawdy miming), and uses the audience-participation element of the 'groundlings' effectively in crowd scenes. This is one theatre where I think you get better entertainment value from paying five pounds to stand in the open air in front of the stage than you do from a more expensive ticket and a seat (cushion costs extra!)