This book gives even longtime Bergman fans a new understanding of his sensitivity to nuance, his versatility, and his dedication to craftsmanship.

Törnqvist Egil :

Egil Törnqvist (19.12.1932 - 9.3.2015) was professor emeritus of Scandinavian studies at the University of Amsterdam, author of Drama as Text and Performance, and a leading Strindberg and Bergman scholar. In 2004, he received the renowned Strindberg Prize.

"Egil Törnqvist's contribution to the field of "Bergman studies" cannot possibly be overestimated. *The Serious Game*, alas, was to be his last book. However untimely, it is thus a fitting testament not only to Bergman's theatre work, but to Törnqvist's great capabilities of sharing his remarkable insights about it." - Jan Holmberg, CEO Ingmar Bergman Foundation, Stockholm "This is the strongest aspect of the book — Törnqvist’s ability of vivid description and thoughtful choice of evocative details of the production (he intently choose only productions he witnessed himself or these which are videodocumented, which allows him to provide, when necessary, detailed transcripts of stage action). The analytical chapters serve very well as particular arguments supporting the general characterization of Bergman’s view on theatre as shown in the preface." - David Drozd, *Theatralia: Journal for Theatre Studies*, 2019