By William Shakespeare | Directed by Annie Lareau
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By William Shakespeare | Directed by Annie Lareau All original material copyright © Seattle Shakespeare Company 2015 WELCOME Dear Educators, Touring acting companies already had a long history in Shakespeare’s time. Before 1576, there were no theaters in England, and so all actors would travel from town to town to perform their plays. Travel was difficult in Elizabethan England. Not only was the travel slow, but there were dangers of getting attacked by thieves or of catching the plague! Traveling troupes of actors were sponsored by the nobility, who enjoyed the entertainment they provided. They would need a license from a Bailiff to be able to travel around England performing, and these licenses were only granted to the aristocracy for them to maintain their acting troupes. The actors also needed support from their patrons to be able to wear clothing of the nobility! England’s Sumptuary Laws prohibited anyone from wearing clothing above their rank unless they were given to them and approved by their noble patron. Today, much has changed in how we tour our Shakespearean plays, but there are still many similarities between our tour and those early acting troupes. We travel from town to town across the state of Washington, battling long drives, traffic, and snow in the mountain passes to get there safely and perform for the enjoyment of our audiences. We also could not do this tour without the generous support of our own sponsors, who help underwrite our travel, support scholarships for schools in need, and help us pay for costume and set upgrades. Just like the Elizabethan acting troupes, we could not do it without support from our generous, Shakespeare-loving patrons! Thank you for booking a Seattle Shakespeare Company touring show at your school. We are thrilled to be able to continue in the tradition of the touring actor troupe, bringing theater to many schools and communities across our state. We hope that you and your students enjoy the show! Best, Michelle Burce Education Director www.seattleshakespeare.org/education 206-733-8228 ext. 251 or [email protected] PRODUCTION SPONSORS CONTENTS Plot Synopsis and Characters: Romeo and Juliet . 1 Plot Synopsis and Characters: Macbeth . 2 Characters: Macbeth . 2 William Shakespeare . 3 A biography of William Shakespeare. Theater Audiences: Then and Now . 4 What was it like going to the theater during Shakespeare’s lifetime? Learn some Elizabethan tips for modern audiences. Modern Shakespeare Adaptations . 5 A sampling of Shakespeare adaptations for film. Reflection and Discussion Questions: Romeo and Juliet . 6 Students consider themes in pre-show reflection questions, and think about the production in post-show discussion questions. Placing the Production: Romeo and Juliet . 7–8 Take a look inside the director’s inspiration and thoughts for the production. Placing the Production: Macbeth . 9–10 Take a look inside the director’s inspiration and thoughts for the production. ACTIVITIES Cross the Line: Quotes . 11 Students find out how many Shakespeare quotes are part of popular culture. Compliments and Insults . 12 Students practice speaking Shakespeare by addressing each other with short Shakespearean insults and compliments of their own creation. Diary / Blog: Romeo and Juliet . 13 Students practice cognitive empathy by imagining a character’s internal experience to a situation from the play. Cross the Line: Themes . 13 Students relate themes and situations from Shakespeare to their own lives. The Art of Tableaux . 14 Students explore how to represent a moment in a play physically. PLOT SYNOPSIS: ROMEO AND JULIET TOURS: March through May, 2015 However, Romeo hears about Juliet’s death not through the th Friar’s messenger, but from his servant. In grief, Romeo returns BEST FOR: 5 grade and up to the city determined to be with Juliet in her death. He goes The play opens with a brawl between the two feuding families of to the apothecary and buys poison, then goes to Juliet’s tomb. Verona, the Capulets and the Montagues. The Prince breaks up the There, he finds Paris who challenges him to a duel. Romeo fight and threatens death for anyone “who disturbs our streets”. kills Paris, then takes the poison and kills himself. Juliet awakes too late to stop him, and sees her love dead beside her. Using A great celebration is being planned by the Capulets to which Romeo’s dagger, she takes her own life. Father Lawrence arrives everyone in the town is invited except the Montagues. The primary at the scene too late to divert the tragedy. reason for the party is to introduce their young daughter, Juliet, to an influential young lord in the town, Paris, in the hopes that they will The two families find Romeo and Juliet dead together in the marry. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio, three Montagues, decide to tomb and realize that they should put their feud behind them. attend this party in disguise so that Romeo will get his mind off of Rosaline, an unattainable girl who he is in love with. From the moment Romeo sees Juliet from across the room, he is CHARACTERS enchanted by her and forgets all about Rosaline. He talks with her and she becomes as entranced by him as he is by her, and Juliet THE MONTAGUES forgets all about Paris. Juliet’s cousin Tybalt notices that Romeo and ROMEO, son of Lord and Lady Montague his kinsmen are trespassing at the party, but heeds the warning of MERCUTIO, related to Prince Escalus and a close friend to Romeo the prince and does not start a fight. Romeo sneaks back into the garden, where he hears Juliet talking to herself about the danger of BENVOLIO, Romeo’s cousin and friend loving an enemy. He appears and speaks to Juliet. They exchange ABRAHAM, a servant of the Montagues vows of love, and plan to marry in secret the next day. THE CAPULETS Romeo begs Friar Lawrence to marry him and Juliet. Father Lawrence agrees, hoping that the marriage might end the feud JULIET, daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet between the families and bring peace to the town. The two LaDY CapULET, the head of the house of Capulet, she is lovers are married and go their separate ways, planning to meet Juliet’s mother and enemy of the Montagues again in the secret of the night. That afternoon Tybalt attempts NURSE, Juliet’s nurse to pick a fight with Romeo. Romeo refuses, knowing that he has married Tybalt’s cousin Juliet. Mercutio takes up his sword PETER, servant to the nurse and Juliet to return Tybalt’s insult. As Romeo tries to break up the fight, TYBALT, Juliet’s cousin he restrains Mercutio. Tybalt takes advantage of this and stabs SAMPSON, servant of the Capulets Mercutio, who is killed. Romeo, enraged at the death of his friend, kills Tybalt and is banished by the prince. GREGORY, servant of the Capulets The Nurse tells Juliet that Romeo has been sentenced to banishment OTHERS for killing Tybalt. Juliet is sad that her kinsman has been killed, but FRIAR LaWRENCE, a Franciscan friar and close friend to Romeo sadder that Romeo is banished. Romeo and Juliet have only one night together after they are married before Romeo must leave the PARIS, a relative of Prince Escalus and Lady Capulet’s choice of city or be killed. Their parting causes both of them much sadness husband for Juliet and they both would rather kill themselves than be apart. PRINCE ESCALUS, the prince of Verona, he is related to Mercutio and Paris Unaware that Juliet has already married Romeo, the Capulets plan for her to marry Paris. Juliet goes to Friar Lawrence for help. He gives her a sleeping potion that will make her appear dead for two days and tells her to take it the night before her wedding to Paris. The Friar says he will send a message to Romeo letting him know of the plan so that he can find her in the tomb and they will be reunited when she awakes. SEATTLE SHAKESPEARE COMpaNY: EDUCATOR RESOURCE GUIDE PAGE 1 PLOT SYNOPSIS: MACBETH TOURS: March through May, 2015 Lady Macbeth has gone mad and, as she sleepwalks, reveals her th guilt by trying to wash Duncan’s blood from her hands. Macbeth BEST FOR: Well-prepared 5 graders and up is too occupied with battle preparations to pay attention to her CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Scottish history, magic dreams and is angry with the doctor when he cannot cure her. and witchcraft As the castle is attacked, Lady Macbeth dies, perhaps by her own hand. Macbeth is shaken, but reminds himself of the prophecy that Duncan, the king of Scotland, is at war with Norway. Macbeth, a he will only be killed when impossible things happen. general in Duncan’s army, has bravery fought the Thane of Cawdor, a Scottish noble who had joined Norway. The traitor is arrested and The English army reaches Birnam Wood. To disguise their Duncan gives his title to Macbeth. Macbeth and his friend Banquo numbers, Malcolm instructs each man to cut a branch from a tree meet three witches, who prophesize Macbeth’s new title and say and hold it in front of him as they march on Dunsinane castle. that he will be king. With the first prophecy come true, Macbeth Seeing this, a servant tells Macbeth that Birnam Wood seems to wonders how he will become king while Duncan and his sons be moving toward the castle. Macbeth is furious but goes out are still alive. Informed of the prophecy in a letter, Lady Macbeth to fight nonetheless. Macduff challenges Macbeth and as they prepares for the arrival of Duncan, convinced that he should be fight Macduff reveals that he was not “of woman born” but was killed.