The celebrated actor devised this work in 1977 after being invited to present a solo performance for the Edinburgh International Festival. In Acting Shakespeare, press notes state, "McKellen is alone on stage, with no props or costumes, as he performs some of the most striking monologues from Shakespeare’s masterpieces. With wit and humor, the highly acclaimed member of the Royal Shakespeare Company continues by discussing his relationship with theatre – from his earliest encounters with Shakespeare, as both a spectator and performer, to his Cambridge experiences with such fellow undergraduate actors as Trevor Nunn, David Frost and Derek Jacobi – and offering amusing theatrical lore and a discourse on some of the greatest plays of all time."

The DVD features McKellen performing excerpts from Hamlet, Henry V, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet, among others. Running time is 86 minutes; suggested retail price is $29.98.