Written to provide the actor with fresh and unusual Shakespearean audition material, this book provides fifty speeches. Some are taken from plays which are frequently overlooked and others are lesser-known speeches from more popular plays. Alongside each speech is a helpful character description, brief explanation of the context and notes on obscure words, phrases and references. These are all written from the viewpoint of the auditioning actor. There is also a guide to selecting, preparing and performing audition speeches and background material on Shakespeare and the times he lived in.