Michael Boyd: A Tribute
Michael Boyd was appointed Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2002, which was tumultuous time for the RSC. Throughout his ten-year tenure, however, he allied his business acumen and commitment to the ideal of an ensemble organisation, restoring the Company to economic stability and rebuilding its relationships with both staff and audiences, all while staging memorable performances.
Following the sad news of Michael Boyd’s passing, the Shakespeare team have put together a collection of articles and reviews relating to Boyd’s work, as well as interviews with Boyd, to pay tribute to his directorial work for the Company. This collection examines Boyd’s personal vision for the RSC and his commitment to political and physical theatre, which culminated in his critically acclaimed Histories Cycle. Although there is naturally an emphasis on that achievement, Boyd’s other work on a range of Shakespearean dramas is also analysed, such as the ambitious decision to stage a Complete Works Festival. The Festival brought together a wide range of British and international theatre companies to present all of Shakespeare’s known works in Stratford-upon-Avon between April 2006 and March 2007.
We encourage readers to revisit Boyd’s influential work through this collection and pay homage to his impact on the RSC and the production of Shakespeare more widely.
Edited by
Kath Bradley(Independent Researcher in Shakespeare and Performance, UK)