Tip of the Tongue

Reflections from Theatre's Most Influential Director

Peter Brook on language, performance, and meaning

About the Ebook

A thoughtful and deeply personal book by a master theatre-maker.

In Tip of the Tongue, Peter Brook takes a charming, playful and wise look at topics such as the subtle, telling differences between French and English, and the many levels on which we can appreciate the works of Shakespeare. Brook also revisits his seminal concept of the 'empty space', considering how theatre – and the world – have changed over the span of his long and distinguished career.

Threaded throughout with intimate and revealing stories from Brook's own life, Tip of the Tongue is a short but sparkling gift from one of the greatest artists of recent times.

Why You'll Love This Ebook

• Read the late-career reflections of one of theatre's greatest directors
• Explore Peter Brook's lifelong inquiry into the nature of performance
• Discover insights from a master who shaped contemporary theatre
• Treasure Nick Hern Books' publication of Brook's definitive thinking

Reviews

'A gem… like sitting down with Brook after a meal… this simple and accessible book contains insights and lessons from someone who has lived and breathed theatre for over seventy years' Drama Magazine

'Full of aphoristic wisdom' Guardian

'Short, sweet and brimming with wise saws and modern instances' The Stage

'Peter Brook's exploration of words, theatre and everything attached is loving and heartfelt, taking his readers on a journey through his experiences and giving meaning to what he's seen and done' Broadway World

'Filled with wisdom… devotees will be enchanted by the great director’s latest ruminations on language and the theatre' British Theatre Guide

About the Author

Peter Brook (1925–2022) was one of the most influential and important figures in twentieth-century theatre. Outstanding in a career full of remarkable achievements were his productions of Titus Andronicus (1955) with Laurence Olivier, King Lear (1962) with Paul Scofield, and The Marat/Sade (1964) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (1970), both for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

After moving to Paris and establishing the International Centre for Theatre Research in 1970 and the International Centre for Theatre Creation when he opened the Bouffes du Nord in 1974, he produced a series of events which pushed at the boundaries of theatre, such as Conference of the Birds (1976), The Ik (1975), The Mahabharata (1985) and The Tragedy of Carmen (1981) to name but a few.

His films include Lord of the Flies (1963), King Lear (1970), The Mahabharata (1989), Tell Me Lies (restored 2013) and Meetings with Remarkable Men (restored 2017).

His hugely influential books, from The Empty Space (1968) to The Quality of Mercy (2013), Tip of the Tongue (2017) and Playing by Ear (2019), have been published in many languages throughout the world.

Publication Details

ISBN (EPUB): 9781780019390
Publication Date: 14 September 2017
Pages: 112
Format: Ebook (EPUB)
Publisher: Nick Hern Books

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