In England, each generation has reinterpreted Shakespeare’s plays, finding in them both a mirror and a measuring stick of humanity. In this program, renowned theater director Sir Richard Eyre traces the evolution of Shakespearean drama, from the days of the Rose to the best performances of the last hundred years. Interviews with Peter Brook, Sir Tom Stoppard, Dame Judi Dench, Trevor Nunn, Sir Peter Hall, and the late Sir John Gielgud, plus excerpts from avant-garde as well as traditional productions, reveal the genius of the Bard and his famous interpreters. The contributions of Harley Granville-Barker and Lilian Bayliss are considered as well. Original BBC broadcast title: The Invention of Theatre. (60 minutes)