Antony Sher - Year Of The Fat Knight

Series

Book of the Week

Also Described As

Antony Sher recounts the year in which he created and performed his version of Shakespeare's Falstaff - despite never intending to undertake such an iconic role.

Thirty years ago, a promising young actor published his account of preparing for and playing the role of Richard III. Antony Sher's Year of the King has since become a classic of theatre literature.

In 2014, Sher - in his 60s - was cast as Falstaff in Gregory Doran's Royal Shakespeare Company production of the two parts of Henry IV. Both the production and Sher's Falstaff were acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, with Sher winning the Critics' Circle Award for Best Shakespearean Performance.

Year of the Fat Knight is Antony Sher's account of researching, rehearsing and performing one of Shakespeare's best-known and most popular characters.

He tells us how he had doubts about playing the part at all; how he sought to reconcile Falstaff's obesity, drunkenness, cowardice and charm; how he wrestled with the fat suit needed to bulk him up; and how he explored the complexities and contradictions of this comic yet often dangerous personality.

On the way, Sher paints a uniquely close-up portrait of the RSC at work.

Read by Antony Sher

A Brill Production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015.

Duration

15 minutes

18 minutes

Genre

Book Of The Week
Factual

Main Credits

Author - Antony Sher

Reader - Antony Sher

Station

Radio 4

Duration

15 Minutes

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	20150504	20190610 (BBC7) 20190611 (BBC7)	Antony Sher recounts the year he created his version of Shakespeare's Falstaff.
02	20150505	20190611 (BBC7) 20190612 (BBC7)	While rehearsing Falstaff, Antony Sher films a scene in The Hobbit with Ian McKellan.
03	20150506	20190612 (BBC7) 20190613 (BBC7)	Antony Sher gets to grips with his Falstaffian fat suit.
04	20150507	20190613 (BBC7) 20190614 (BBC7)	While rehearsing Falstaff for the RSC, Antony Sher finally runs both plays at once.
05 LAST	20150508	20190614 (BBC7) 20190615 (BBC7)	After a year of rehearsing Falstaff, Antony Sher's fat knight is revealed to the public.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	20150504	20190610 (BBC7) 20190611 (BBC7)	Antony Sher recounts the year he created his version of Shakespeare's Falstaff.
02	20150505	20190611 (BBC7) 20190612 (BBC7)	While rehearsing Falstaff, Antony Sher films a scene in The Hobbit with Ian McKellan.
03	20150506	20190612 (BBC7) 20190613 (BBC7)	Antony Sher gets to grips with his Falstaffian fat suit.
04	20150507	20190613 (BBC7) 20190614 (BBC7)	While rehearsing Falstaff for the RSC, Antony Sher finally runs both plays at once.
05 LAST	20150508	20190614 (BBC7) 20190615 (BBC7)	After a year of rehearsing Falstaff, Antony Sher's fat knight is revealed to the public.