UNDERSTANDING SHAKESPEARE John Windsor Cunningham

[@sela5613]

Applying to several drama schools this year and your lessons are always illuminating when I'm stuck on certain pieces. Many, many thanks.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Try to find something in Shakespeare you 'simply' understand, so that you can find a 'side' of you in it and make a few of the lines different. Isabella may be a fool, Lady Mac' may be a bitch and Ophelia may be scared stiff, and there must be some part Willliam seemed to write for 'you' - (if you're one of those sometimes!) Know what is behind the lines weeks in advance, and have the huge fun of having to decide which school to ACCEPT! John.

[@stephiroth2176]

Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom, John. One of my coaches recommended your videos to me, as an aspiring Voice Actress these lessons speak more to me than most other lessons, about connecting with the text, the characters, the context and so on, that I have attended. God bless you.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Thanks for kind words. Yes, if we work on all the things you mention then we may find the 'deep fun' in acting, especially if we find some parts which 'suit' us (as, for me, with the blind stupidity of LANCE in TWO GENT'S OF VERONA or the selfishness of ANGELO in MEASURE FOR M'. And a voice can - amazingly - well, sometimes anyway, - have truth in it. Gold! J.

[@RichardRhubarb]

Looking as good as ever John!

[@zhi_maqiu]

6:02 I could never have enough of you! I absolutely adore your videos for so many different reasons it would be hard to speak of them all

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Too kind. Thank you. John Windsor-Cunningham

[@shpr9334]

shall we compare Mr John to a summer's day..

[@alyssasparacco6786]

John, I love your KZbin channel because as an aspiring actor, it's been really hard to get experience during covid. These mini-lessons really give insight into both how much I know about acting and how much I need to learn. Plus, it's nice to feel like I am improving in my acting ability while not being able to attend physical classes, so your videos are a very good substitute!

[@SuperBlackguard]

Thankyou so much....I love this way of looking at shakespeare I suppose it is necessary to remind oneself of the depth of each line....he is like the Rosetta stone of poetic imagery and language

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Thanks for kind words. Better videos later in the year hopefully. John.

[@jackjohnhameld6401]

I could not act my way through a furniture catalogue, but watching John-Windsor-Cunningham has enhanced my enjoyment of good acting, as much as rereading Ken Tynan, Peter Hall, Michael Billington. I can't wait for theatres and cinemas to open again, but these vlogs give me a sharper appreciation of television drama. I wish I had discovered them years ago.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Thanks for kind words. Sounds as if we've both sat in theatres listening to what sounds like 'furniture catalogues' being read out, (with due respect to people who write catalogues); and as soon as I can think of another subject I'll aim for better videos soon. Best wishes, John Windsor-Cunningham

[@ZafAdventures]

Hi jhon .interesting deep love story mix with many emotional and passionate aspects .well explain ...happy to see you again .God bless you in this Holy month

[@aeroplat_lim]

My dream is to get a place in RADA to be an actor like you. I do wish to make it up. Thank you for your teaching.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Well, for RADA, - as with all auditions, but even more with RADA - the 'trick' is to choose the right monologues and work on them as much in advance as possible. It's obvious but just not done by many others you'll be competing with. I don't push people to come to me for coaching, but if you have questions which can be answered briefly then send them through the website (not here please as they can be missed here, and you don't want your problems seen by everyone - ! - ) and I'll be happy to advise. John Windsor-Cunningham

[@marybethmorrison]

What a wonderful surprise to find this in my feed today! This has given me a lot to think about. Thank you for this video, John! One of the best ways I’ve come to understand Shakespeare (aside from the rare, glorious moments I’ve gotten to perform onstage), is to read the plays aloud with other actors. We usually get 5-6 people together online, split up the roles, and go straight through. Something about hearing and speaking the words aloud, gives me a far better understanding of the characters and the story, than just reading quietly by myself.

[@huhhwuhh]

i know that these videos are intended for actors, but i’m a linguistics student currently doing research in phonetics and it’s fascinating enough to just hear your fascinating RP accent

[@SMewett]

This was just wonderful 🙏🏽

[@captaindunsel6958]

Thank you John!

[@SunnyyScott]

Thank you so much John, I’m hoping to apply for RADA next year and understanding Shakespeare is essential. Yet again you are massively helpful and very elegant in your presentation.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

RADA gets thousands of applications and the 'trick' is to prepare in advance, to have monologues chosen which are NOT too long, and which SUIT you, and which you TOTALLY understand and have read long before the audition so that you can enjoy it. If they are ones which are done by hundreds of others then you need to make them YOURS, to be about YOU! John Windsor-Cunningham

[@VonBreezy23]

did you get in

[@carleigh7367]

Sonnet 18 sure is beautiful and i love how you explained it, but we do not know if it was inspired by a women (as you seem to assume). I just wanted to clarify that small detail.

[@mrukhin]

sir, thank you so much, cordally !

[@KaifKhan-nn9gr]

Thank you

[@mrukhin]

how do you find Lewis Carroll's poetry? is there any chance to hear your opinion on his tricky play of words?

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Sorry, you're right to ask, of course, as an actor may be able to bring many different poets' words to life, but I'm really welded to plays, and it sounds as if you're ready to practice the "tricky play of words" of L Carroll on your own, and practice is all this all needs ( ! ) But thanks for asking. John Windsor-Cunningham

[@vansh4383]

Sir hello i again jhve a question what i have noticed while watching great movies the actors totally forget the camera and get indulged in the scene Sir how do actors forget the camera, i mean for a person like me it's always in the back of my mind that camera is in the front which prevents me from getting really into the scene, any solution or advice?

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

What you say is the way many actors feel if they are not going to classes and getting 'inside' the character they are playing more and more. I cannot give you serious advice about it here because all actors are different. So go to an acting coach, or come to me online if I'm free, and you cannot find anyone else. And please use the 'Contact page' on my website ( Windsor-Cunningham.com ) or my direct email ( [e-mail] ) John Windsor-Cunningham