Shakespeare's Birthplace & Workplace: Text, History, and Performance

2 units

In this two-week program, students will deepen their engagement with Shakespeare’s work by gaining first-hand insights into the historical contexts, theatrical venues, and performance practices of his plays. Program participants will have the opportunity to learn from the artists and scholars of the Globe Theatre, who will introduce students to both early modern playing spaces and the techniques of performance and text analysis. They will also take classes given by WashU faculty, who will elaborate on the productions students attend at the Globe Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford by holding pre- and post-play discussions on dramaturgical structures and production choices. Beyond seeing these theatrical productions, students will inhabit an array of early modern venues of Shakespearean performance as they enjoy guided tours of Middle Temple, Whitehall Palace, the George Inn, and the magnificent Hampton Court Palace. They will also become familiar with the impact that Shakespeare has had on the visual arts by visiting several museums, including the Tate Britain and the National Portrait Gallery, and by seeing his tributes at Westminster Abbey and Southwark Cathedral. In Stratford-upon-Avon, students will learn more about Shakespeare's biographical details by exploring the sites of his most significant life events, including his birthplace, his family home, his wife Anne Hathaway's cottage, his schoolroom, and his tomb at Holy Trinity Church. Ultimately, this course will not only provide participants with a deep understanding of the cultural, historical, and theatrical practices that informed Shakespeare’s creative process, but will also enable students to envision new directions for past and future productions of his work.