In the early days of the National Theatre, Christopher Plummer was contracted to perform Coriolanus.
Administrators for the National had seen a hugely successful production of Coriolanus in Berlin and brought the German directors to London for the project. Plummer memorized Shakespeare's text before rehearsal's began.
It became clear, however, that the Berlin production had in fact been Brecht's free-ranging and deeply Marxist adaptation. Something you would have thought would be recognized by the National folk. Plummer was there for the Shakespeare, The Germans were prepared, and only willing, to do the Brecht. Plummer, riding the crest of his stardom, refused.
One can only hope he actually said "There is a world elsewhere!"
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