Famous names gather at RSC to honour John Barton

Vanessa Redgrave, Patrick Stewart, Janet Suzman, Trevor Nunn, Harriet Walter and Jane Lapotaire were among the contributors at an event to celebrate John Barton at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) this afternoon (Sunday).

Entitled ‘John Barton: A Celebration’ the ticketed event commemorated the great director who died in January aged 89. John was a founding member of the RSC with Peter Hall in 1960, his directing career spans over 40 years, and he published more than 20 adaptations as well as several works of major importance, including The War of The Roses, The Hollow Crown, The Greeks and Tantalus. Most significantly he changed the way Shakespeare is played and heard through his workshops and his visionary book and television series Playing Shakespeare.

RSC associate artists, John’s friends and colleagues performed notable extracts and shared memories during the afternoon, which was originally billed as an hour-long event, but overran to over 140 minutes.

Many told of they debt they owed John, for launching their careers or for elucidating Shakespeare, and all spoke of his warmth and humanity, and shared humorous stories of his eccentricities – including his clumsiness and sartorial inelegance.

For Herald arts’ view of this emotional afternoon, see Thursday’s Herald.