The Welsh-born, Tony Award-winning actor brings his one-man show, “What You Will,” to the American Conservatory Theater. The show, a survey all about William Shakespeare, runs Friday through Aug. 9 at 415 Geary St., San Francisco.

Why is there so much bad Shakespeare out there? You need to take out the pretentiousness. There's no reason for all of the shouting and spitting.

What's in your show? A little bit of everything — bathos, pathos. There are serious moments and some that some might find crass.

Any particular characters you want to mention who are in the show? Hamlet, Richard III, Romeo, Berowne from “Love’s Labors Lost.”

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Are there any roles you haven't played that you’d like to play? I wish I'd played Coriolanus.

Have you been in San Francisco before? I directed Bebe Neuwirth in “Here Lies Jenny” at the Post Street Theatre. I was gobsmacked — the audiences were extremely knowledgeable, affectionate, interested and not cynical.

You’re been a theater administrator and director as well as an actor. What’s that like? I enjoy the fundraising. I get to meet people with more money than they know what to do with … they’re interesting.