Twelve leading actors take us behind the scenes of landmark Shakespearean productions, each recreating in detail their memorable performance in a major role. Roger Allam on his Falstaff in both Henry IV plays at Shakespeare’s GlobeEileen Atkins on Viola in two productions of Twelfth Night seventeen years apartSimon Russell Beale on Cassius in Deborah Warner’s modern-dress Julius CaesarChiwetel Ejiofor on his Donmar Warehouse Othello, directed by Michael GrandageSara Kestelman on Hippolyta and Titania in Peter Brook’s iconic white-box DreamIan McKellen on one of Shakespeare’s most demanding of roles: King LearMichael Pennington on stepping in at the eleventh hour as Timon of AthensAlan Rickman on re-evaluating the melancholic Jaques in As You Like ItFiona Shaw on Shakespeare’s Shrew, Katherine, in Jonathan Miller’s productionPatrick Stewart on his Las Vegas-set Shylock, a role he has played many timesHarriet Walter on Imogen in Shakespeare’s late romance, Cymbeline, at the RSCZoë Wanamaker on her National Theatre Beatrice, directed by Nicholas HytnerEach actor leads us through the choices they made in rehearsal, and how the character works in performance, shedding new light on some of the most challenging roles in the canon. The result is a series of individual masterclasses that will be invaluable for other actors and directors, as well as students of Shakespeare – and fascinating for audiences of the plays.