Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent

By: Judi Dench, Brendan O'Hea

Narrated by: Barbara Flynn, Brendan O'Hea, Judi Dench

"In a remarkable performance, Flynn laughs, jokes, and calls O'Hea to task when he's wrong--all sounding very much like the famous Dench...The final segment has Dench (in her own voice) and O'Hea engaged in friendly, very funny, squabbling. Informative, educational and altogether brilliant listening!"—AudioFile (Earphones Award Winner)


This program includes interstitial narration from Judi Dench and a bonus conversation between the authors.

Discover the work of the greatest writer in the English language as you've never encountered it before with internationally renowned actor Dame Judi Dench's SHAKESPEARE: The Man Who Pays The Rent—a witty, insightful journey through the plays and tales of our beloved Shakespeare.

Taking a curtain call with a live snake in her wig...

Cavorting naked through the Warwickshire countryside painted green...

Acting opposite a child with a pumpkin on his head...

These are just a few of the things Dame Judi Dench has done in the name of Shakespeare.

For the very first time, Judi opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played throughout her seven-decade career, from Lady Macbeth and Titania to Ophelia and Cleopatra. In a series of intimate conversations with actor & director Brendan O'Hea, she guides us through Shakespeare's plays with incisive clarity, revealing the secrets of her rehearsal process and inviting us to share in her triumphs, disasters, and backstage shenanigans.

Interspersed with vignettes on audiences, critics, company spirit and rehearsal room etiquette, she serves up priceless revelations on everything from the craft of speaking in verse to her personal interpretations of some of Shakespeare's most famous scenes, all brightened by her mischievous sense of humour, striking level of honesty and a peppering of hilarious anecdotes, many of which have remained under lock and key until now.

Instructive and witty, provocative and inspiring, this is ultimately Judi's love letter to Shakespeare, or rather, The Man Who Pays The Rent.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

Critic reviews

"A magical love letter to Shakespeare" - Kenneth Branagh

"A literary demonstration of how the iconic actor has lost none of her energy, flair, and fiery intelligence... Dench’s memoir of the roles she has loved is a witty, thoroughly entertaining romp through the Shakespearean world." - Kirkus (starred review)

"...it’s a mark of Dench’s impish genius and O’Hea’s deftness that it genuinely feels like you’re sitting at her kitchen table with her. It’s companionable and compelling – if you love Judi Dench or Shakespeare (and most of us do), look no further." - The Guardian

“…swirls and dances with brilliance and mischief…Judi knows Shakespeare from the inside – she’s who Shakespeare had in mind when he took up his quill. The wisdom here is breath-taking…The book is pure enchantment.” - The Daily Mail (Book of the Week)

“An utterly delightful book…there can be few higher pleasures in civilised life than hearing Judi Dench recite the poetry of Shakespeare…What emerges is a wealth of unpretentious horse sense – Shakespeare from a great actor’s perspective – that repeatedly strikes to the heart of the matter with a sharp instinctive intelligence that puts fancy-pants literary critics to shame.” - The Telegraph

“This is a perceptive read, suffused with Dench’s trademark twinkly-eyed humour…Her lifelong love of these plays, their humanity and universality, is unmistakable, but this is a refreshingly honest, unacademic take…Dench’s scene-by-scene analysis of many works is sharp and her memory for seemingly inconsequential fragments of line-reading or costume, laser-like..” - iNews

The theatre history, the mischievous leading lady and her delightful interviewer

I loved this audio book. It felt like I was sitting in Jude’s leaving room watching the fun these two had talking about Shakespeare and his profound effect on their lives as well as the lives of so many others over the centuries. It taught me more about the plays while also being completely entertaining. I fell in love with both Dame Judy and Brendan O’Hea. One of my absolute favorites.

One of my favorites.

I love Shakespeare and Judi Dench takes into the heart of her experiences with passion and humor. I’ve listened to this book three times and enjoyed each insight and each anecdote immensely.

Glorious Judy Denchaster Class

I absolutely loved and enjoyed this book. I knew I wanted the Judy Dench "narration," and it was totally worth it. It was a delightful study, and I will listen to it many times. I feel so lucky to have heard this book.

A Delightful Listen

This conversation between Dame Judi and Brendan was a delight for the ears. Judi brought Shakespeare to life in the episodes.

a treasure

Great treat for all Shakespeare lovers and Ms. Dench's admirers. Delightful listen and read.