The start of a new unit on Shakespeare, either in the drama classroom or with an English class, is an opportunity to demystify Shakespeare and enthuse students. It doesn’t always work out that way though. As I flagged in my previous post, starting with a crash course in Elizabethan England doesn’t always work for students, … Continue reading Archetypes: Shakespeare 101
Author: Amy Perry
Shakespeare 101
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-ga857-117ec0a How do we engage students in the study of Shakespeare in a way that is engaging and dynamic? How can we make small changes in the classroom to revitalise this first encounter for young people? As Australian teachers prepare to return to the classroom for 2022, Amy Perry collates resources for framing an active … Continue reading Shakespeare 101
Thought Experiment: Shakespeare 101
Shakespeare’s Classroom at King Edward VI SchoolTaken by Amy Perry in July, 2013. How we begin a new unit of Shakespeare, in the rehearsal room, the Drama classroom or in the English classroom, can set the tone for the whole unit. So often students get caught up in a preconceived notion that Shakespeare is poetry, … Continue reading Thought Experiment: Shakespeare 101
Why Shakespeare? Part 3 – What he leaves out
See Part 1 and Part 2 of this series. We’re very fortunate to have the plays in complete form at all. They certainly didn’t exist like that in his day. Shakespeare’s plays existed like the parts for a concert band. Every actor had their own part (or parts) with their cues, so they knew when … Continue reading Why Shakespeare? Part 3 – What he leaves out
Why Shakespeare? Part 2 – The Theatre
In Part 1 of this series I wrote that my answer to 'Why Shakespeare?' is about the impact of Shakespeare's experience as a working actor shines through in his writing. For Part 2 I want to look at the way that Shakespeare harnessed the theatre itself. Look at the theatres of his day. Here’s a … Continue reading Why Shakespeare? Part 2 – The Theatre
Sport for Jove’s As You Like It – Cast Interview
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-jwqz8-1175333 What demands does a touring production of a Shakespeare play, rehearsed during a Covid year, place on the actor? Is a production Australian just by virtue of being performed in Australia? What place does Shakespeare have within the landscape of Australian theatre? Cast members of Sport for Jove's current production of As You Like … Continue reading Sport for Jove’s As You Like It – Cast Interview
Why Shakespeare?
When you ask me, “Why Shakespeare?”, I’ll tell you it’s because he captured the essence of drama like no one else ever has, because he used everything that theatre was in his time with an insider’s understanding, because he knew what to put in, how to use it, and what to leave out. In this post (the first in a series of three), I’ll unpack the first of these reasons - Shakespeare creating theatre from the inside.
Let Him Roar Again 