David Garrick and the Birth of Modern Theatre - Tapa dura

Actor, director, impresario, author, David Garrick is the most legendary man of the theatre of modern times. He reformed English theatre practice, established a 'natural' style of acting, and made the profession socially acceptable. As his great friend Dr Johnson remarked, no actor before Garrick had made so much money or achieved such an eminent position in society. Not for nothing is the most exclusive club in London named after him; Garrick was the first international 'megastar'. Drawing on the large amount of source material that is available, from the account of Johnson's friendship with Garrick in Boswell's Life, through descriptions of his acting by English, French and German critics, to his own diaries and letters, Jean-Norman Benedetti has written a lively and fascinating account of Garrick's style and pivotal reforms, establishing his place in the development of acting and directing.

Jean Benedetti worked as an actor, director and television writer before turning to teaching. Between 1970 and 1987 he was Principal of the Rose Bruford College, while also active in the International Theatre Institute (UNESCO) and was responsible for organising many international seminars on the training of the actor and the director.