On today’s episode, we’ll be doing something a little different. Instead of our usual discussions of films with a panel of critics,  Alex interviews British actress Olivia Vinall about performing Shakespeare. In this conversation, we talk about each of Olivia’s four Shakespearean roles: Desdemona, Cordelia, Juliet, and Rosalind. We talk about how she finds a way into the text, what it’s like working with different directors, and why she loves Shakespeare so much. On this episode:

• Other recent Shakespeare episodes (1:48)
• Background on Vinall's career (3:55)
• What Vinall loves about Shakespeare (8:28)
• Contemporary acting style in Shakespeare (15:50)
• Performing Shakespeare in different venues (28:28)
• Rosalind in As You Like It (33:07)
• Working with directors (37:47)
• Seeing other performances of Shakespeare as an actor (46:52)
• Acting in a live recording (51:14)
• Vinall's next projects (55:32)
• Conclusion (57:38)

Show notes:

• Follow Olivia Vinall on Instagram (@olivia_vinall)
• Read Alex's career profile interview with of Olivia
• Read Alex's review of Sam Mendes' production of King Lear, starring Vinall
• Vinall's performance in Othello is available through National Theatre at Home
• Olivia Vinall has narrated 13 audiobooks, including Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd. They are available through itunes and Audible.

Related episodes:

• Bonus 24: Kenneth Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing (Member's Only)
• Bonus 22: Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth (Member's Only)
• Bonus 17: Saoirse Ronan and James McArdle in The Tragedy of Macbeth at the Almeida Theatre (Member's Only)
• 21st Folio, ep. 6: Maxine Peake talks Hamlet

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