Playing Shakespeare

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This team-taught course is in two parts. The first half of the semester will introduce the students to the close study of a range of Shakespeare's plays. It aims at achieving a deeper understanding of the nature of the Elizabethan stage, the significance of Shakespeare's use of the genres of history and comedy, the moral, social and political issues within the plays, and the use of language. Whilst the course seeks to place the Shakespearean text in its historical context, it will also explore the question why and how Shakespeare is relevant to us today through the analysis of contemporary performance. Thus, students will also experience plays in the theatre and be encouraged to take an active position vis-à-vis each performance by analysing it and writing reviews. The plays studied are chosen to parallel current productions of Shakespeare's plays in London. Film versions will also be used in a limited number of cases. The second half of the course is based at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and will offer students an opportunity to work practically on Shakespeare text, exploring Shakespeare's language, his use of prose and poetry, rhythm and metre, soliloquies etc. Students will have the opportunity to work on the stage of the new Globe Theatre under a professional director to discover how the plays were influenced by the architecture of the Globe and the actors' relationship with their audience. The course will culminate with a presentation by the participants of scenes on stage at the Globe in front of the whole student body. The course is limited to 14 places, and although open to all students, preference will be given to FTT majors and those with acting experience.