“When a bunch of down-at-heel Elizabethan actors (one of them < gasp>…a woman!!) get together to complain about how they never get cast in the ‘good’ parts in Mr William Shakespeare’s plays, they decide to perform their favourite roles for each other, just this once. Soon they’re ready to show the world…well, the village square at least!”
In a performance aimed at Key Stage 2 children, Off Book Theatre examines the vast wealth of characters in Shakespeare’s plays. Incorporating scenes from Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet, Henry V, Twelfth Night and Macbeth, we look at the strong character archetypes that come up again and again, which we still see in literature today. The unsure hero, the complex villain, the young lovers, the strong woman, the power behind the throne & others…Heroes, Heroines and H’everybody else!
Including details of what it was like to live, and to be an actor, in Shakespeare’s time, this production is intended to introduce children to his work in an enjoyable way. Though staging is minimal period costumes and props are used to perform the excerpts in the style of a group of strolling players.
To accompany the performance, we are also offering a choice of two workshops, one on Rhythm & Rhyme – The Language of Shakespeare, the other one on Building Characters. Looking at some of Shakespeare’s more ‘larger than life’ protagonists a workshop on Building Characters. Looking at some of Shakespeare’s more ‘larger than life’ protagonists & using drama games, we will help the children to develop their own fully-realised characters & inspire them to create stories of their own.
Show running time: 1 hour approx. Workshop running time: 40 mins.
Cost : £300 per show. (Either workshop is available for an additional £75)
Available September to October 2016
For more information or to book a show, please contact Fiona Angwin [email protected] or on 01495-651025 or 07961845883