In Contact with the Gods?: Directors Talk Theatre »

Rarely has the private world of the director in the rehearsal room been so frankly and entertainingly opened. In addition to the art and craft of directing, they discuss: multiculturalism; the 'classical' repertoire; theatre companies and institutions; working in a foreign language; opera; Shakespeare; new technologies; the art of acting; design; international festivals; politics and aesthetics; the audience; theatre and society.

Library Journal

This is a fascinating look at the theater world and what goes on before the audience sees the finished production. In 1994, the Arts Council of Great Britain brought together in Manchester some of the theatrical world's most famous and innovative directors to discuss what they do and why. Eighteen outstanding directors of the last 20 yearsincluding Peter Brook, Jonathan Miller, Maria Irene Fornes, Peter Sellars, Arane Mnouchkine, and Robert Wilsonwere asked questions by the audience, and the text supplied is in a Q&A format. The range of material is extensive, with the directors giving full, detailed answers that are informative and, at times, quite thought-provoking. The epilog is a transcription of a conversation among Peter Brook, Jonathan Miller, and Oliver Sacks. After reading this book, one will never view a performance the same way; this valuable text belongs in all theater collections in academic and large public libraries.Susan L. Peters, Emory Univ. Lib., Atlanta