Year of the King: An Actor's Diary and Sketchbook

Year of the King: An Actor’s Diary and Sketchbook – Twentieth Anniversary Edition Paperback

by Antony Sher

In 1984 Antony Sher, hailed as “the most exciting actor of his generation” by the Observer, made his debut – on homemade crutches – as the infamous Richard III in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of the play. He would go on to win the Laurence Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for best actor. In his own words and sketches, he chronicles his personal and professional journey to this award-winning performance, from the moment he was offered the role to opening night, in the critically acclaimed book Year of the King, now available in this special 20th anniversary edition.

From his brainstorm to use crutches to bring the king’s deformity to life, to his research for the role, which included watching interviews with psychopaths, reading about mass murderers, and speaking with doctors and physically challenged individuals, to his visit to his homeland of South Africa, to his experiences in working with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the reader is given a front-row seat to Sher’s physical and mental preparation – or rather transformation – for his landmark performance as “the bottled spider.”

About the Author

Antony Sher was born in South Africa and trained as an actor in London. After playing Malcolm Bradbury’s History Man on TV, his stage roles have included the Fool to Michael Gambon’s Lear, Richard III, Shylock, Malvolio, Macbeth, Iago, Tamburlaine, and Cyrano, notably Astrov to Ian McKellan’s Vanya, and Stanley Spencer in Pam Gems’s play. He has published four novels, an autobiography, and a play. He was knighted in 2000.

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Year of the King: An Actor’s Diary and Sketchbook