How William Shakespeare used audition sides
Learn more about William Shakespeare and the use of audition sides in acting.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Courtesy of Folger Shakespeare Library; CC-BY-SA 4.0 (A Britannica Publishing Partner)A look at all four “states” of the Martin Droeshout engraved portrait of William Shakespeare, first published with the 1623 First Folio of Shakespeare's plays.
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Transcript
Did you know sides are what actors get when they audition for a role in commercials, movies, TV, and plays?
This practice goes back to Shakespeare’s day. He wrote on paper, longhand, no photocopiers, no iPad, no internet. Pen and paper, old school.
Shakespeare wrote out the part for each character with their entrances and exits. He then presented them with their side of the character.
For example, “Hamlet enters,” “To be or not to be,” etc. Exit.
I think it was to save paper, practical. They were put in prompt books for stage managers for each production.
When Shakespeare died in 1616, his colleagues, Hemings and Condell, assembled everything they could to make up the first Folio.
Shakespeare wrote 36 plays, give or take. The first Folio was published in 1623, a monumental feat, printer’s mistakes and all. We are grateful.
This practice goes back to Shakespeare’s day. He wrote on paper, longhand, no photocopiers, no iPad, no internet. Pen and paper, old school.
Shakespeare wrote out the part for each character with their entrances and exits. He then presented them with their side of the character.
For example, “Hamlet enters,” “To be or not to be,” etc. Exit.
I think it was to save paper, practical. They were put in prompt books for stage managers for each production.
When Shakespeare died in 1616, his colleagues, Hemings and Condell, assembled everything they could to make up the first Folio.
Shakespeare wrote 36 plays, give or take. The first Folio was published in 1623, a monumental feat, printer’s mistakes and all. We are grateful.
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