Macbeth (Tour)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Macbeth (Tour) WELCOME TO OUR 2014-2015 SEASON Dear Teachers, Thank you for your interest in Seattle Shakespeare Company! As you no doubt know, there are many fantastic online resources to help you teach Shakespeare to your students as effectively as possible. In this age of online media, there are videos, teaching tutorials, shared curriculum guides, and more available to teachers. However, it is as true now as it ever was that Shakespeare is best experienced by watching live performance. Videos can help students understand his plays, but we here at Seattle Shakespeare Company feel that they fall just a little bit short of the live theatrical experience that Shakespeare had in mind when writing his works. This is where Seattle Shakespeare Company comes in! As a local, Puget Sound-area nonprofit theater company, we can help you to connect your students to a live, in-person experience of Shakespeare. We can send professional teaching artists to your school to help students get up on their feet and act out some Shakespeare. We provide discounted student matinee tickets for schools to bring their students to our productions. And we can send our 6-actor touring performances to your schools, all across the state of Washington, from Greys Harbor to Spokane and everywhere in between. This guide is intended to supplement your teaching of Shakespeare with a little about why we at Seattle Shakespeare Company think Shakespeare is relevant today, and includes a few of our favorite in-class activities to do with students at the beginning of their Shakespeare unit. We’ve also included information about this season’s upcoming productions, so you can get a taste of what we do here at Seattle Shakespeare Company, and consider bringing your students to see a live performance of Shakespeare. Finally, we have included some play-specific information as an example of the sort of articles we include in our study guides when you book a student matinee with us. We hope you enjoy this free guide, and that you’ll get a feel for what Seattle Shakespeare Company can do for you! Thank you for all you do for your students, and for connecting your classroom with live Shakespeare performance. We couldn’t do it without you! Best, Michelle Burce Education Director www.seattleshakespeare.org/education 206-733-8228 ext. 251 or [email protected] STUDY GUIDE CONTENTS PLOT SYNOPSISES Waiting for Godot . 1 Twelfth Night . 2 Measure for Measure . 3 Tartuffe . 4 Macbeth (tour) . 5 Romeo and Juliet (tour) . 6 Othello . 7 REFERENCE Macbeth Glossary . 8 REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Romeo and Juliet (tour) . 9 Othello . 10 ACTIVITIES The Art of Tableaux . 11 Themes: Twelfth Night . 12 Shakespearean Compliments and Insults . 12 Cross the Line: Themes and Quotations . 12 ACTIVITY WORKSHEETS Themes: Twelfth Night . 13 Shakespearean Compliments and Insults . 14 Cross the Line: Themes and Quotations . 15 PLOT SYNOPSIS Waiting for Godot September, 2014 Best for: 10th grade and up Curriculum Connections: Existentialism, Theatre of the Absurd Two friends, Vladimir (Didi) and Estragon (Gogo), meet near a tree. They talk and soon it is revealed that they are meeting someone named Godot at that very spot. Didi and Gogo try to amuse themselves to pass the time, bantering, bickering, trying to recall old jokes. Gogo often wants to leave, but Didi always says they must wait for Godot. Their conversation is interrupted by Pozzo, a merchant, and his silent servant, Lucky. The arrogant Pozzo talks to Didi and Gogo about his travels while he eats lunch, which is torture for the hungry Gogo. Wanting to entertain his new friends, Pozzo commands Lucky to dance, which Lucky does awkwardly. Pozzo then tells Lucky to think. Lucky begins to speak, but his words quickly turn into mindless nonsense and he is only interrupted wheh Didi removes Lucky’s hat. Pozzo and Lucky Sir Patrick Steward and Sir Ian McKellen in a 2013 Broadway production of leave, as Didi and Gogo wonder if they have met them before. Waiting for Godot. A boy comes in with a message from Godot, who says he will come tomorrow. Didi asks the boy questions before releasing him. Didi and Gogo resolve to leave the tree and find shelter, yet make no attempt to do so. The next day, Didi and Gogo are at the same spot. Gogo says he slept in a ditch and was beaten, yet seems to be uninjured. Didi tries to talk to Gogo about the previous day’s events, but he can’t recall them at first. As they wait for Godot, they play games and even pretend to be Pozzo and Lucky. Suddenly Pozzo and Lucky appear. Pozzo is blind and cannot remember meeting them yesterday. His arrogance is gone and he seems to be in utter despair. Lucky eventually leads him away and Gogo goes to sleep. The same boy from the day before enters and informs Didi that Godot will not come today, but will tomorrow. Desperate, Didi begs the boy for more, but the boy has no memory of talking to him before. He exits and Didi and Gogo sit at the tree to wait. They mull over the idea of killing themselves and resolve to bring some rope tomorrow in case Godot doesn’t appear. They keep on waiting. Playwright Samuel Beckett (second from left) poses with the cast of the original 1953 production of Waiting for Godot. 1 PLOT SYNOPSIS Twelfth Night October–November, 2014 Best for: All Ages Curriculum Connections: The Shakespearean Fool, Classic Shakespeare Comedies, Twins in Literature Twelfth Night begins on the shore of Illyria, where Viola has survived a shipwreck but fears that her twin brother, Sebastian, has drowned. After learning about her new surroundings from the ship’s captain, Viola disguises herself as a young man and sets out to find employment from Duke Orsino. Orsino has been sending messengers to court the Lady Olivia. He is convinced, from what he hears, that she is his ideal match. After Viola (disguised as ‘Cesario’) arrives at his court, it only takes a few days to become a favorite of Duke Orsino. The Duke imagines that ‘Cesario’s’ youthful face will appeal to Olivia and sends ‘him’ to woo her on his behalf. Viola dutifully takes on the task, even though she has fallen in love with Orsino herself! Meanwhile in Olivia’s house, Olivia refuses to see any suitors because she has dedicated herself to seven years of mourning for her recently deceased brother. Her uncle Sir Toby Belch thinks that his niece is being foolish and brings his friend Sir Orsino, Cesario (Viola), and Feste in Seattle Shakespeare Company’s 2012 free Andrew Aguecheek, a foolish knight, to woo Olivia. They are outdoor production of Twelfth Night. reprimanded by the maid, Maria, for drinking late into the night and making merry in a house of mourning. Only the fool, Feste, Sir Andrew is discouraged by Olivia’s continued favor toward can lift Olivia’s spirits. ‘Cesario,” so Sir Toby convinces Sir Andrew to challenge the youth to a duel. Just as they are about to fight, Antonio They are interrupted by news that a messenger from Orsino happens upon the scene and, believing Viola to be her is waiting at the gate. ‘Cesario’ enters and is granted private brother Sebastian, intervenes and is arrested. Later Sir Andrew audience with Olivia. It becomes clear, as ‘Cesario’ tries to encounters the real Sebastian on the street and re-issues his convince Olivia of Orsino’s worthy love, that Olivia is instead challenge, but Sebastian soundly beats him. Olivia arrives and falling for ‘Cesario.’ When Viola leaves, Olivia sends her mistakes Sebastian for ‘Cesario,’ asking him to marry her. He is melancholy steward Malvolio to bring a ring to the youth and immediately smitten by her beauty and agrees. say it was left behind. The appearance of Sebastian in town sends everyone into Malvolio intercepts Viola on her way back to Orsino’s and presents confusion. Antonio accuses ‘Cesario’ of not repaying the money the ‘forgotten’ ring, telling her only to return to tell Olivia of how he lent to Sebastian. Olivia embraces ‘Cesario’ saying they have Orsino takes the news of her rejection. Viola accepts the ring in been married, much to Viola’s shock. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew confusion, but realizes to her dismay that this is a sign that Olivia accuse ‘Cesario’ of assaulting them in the street. In the midst of all has fallen in love with ‘Cesario’ instead of Orsino! Viola’s denials, Sebastian arrives. The twins recognize each other, Elsewhere in Illyria, Viola’s twin brother, Sebastian, has survived Viola is revealed as a woman, and they clear up the confusion. the shipwreck but believes that Viola has perished. He too In the end, Viola marries Orsino, Sebastian and Olivia remain sets off for Duke Orsino’s court. Sebastian’s friend, the sea happily wed, and Sir Toby offers to marry Maria to make up for captain Antonio, has enemies in Orsino’s court, but pledges to all the trouble he has given her. It is only vengeful Malvolio who accompany Sebastian to keep him safe. does not live happily ever after. At Olivia’s house, more late night merrymaking is interrupted by the disapproving Malvolio. After he leaves, Maria concocts an elaborate trick to be played on him. Forging a love letter from Olivia, she will encourage Malvolio to take on a series of ridiculous behaviors --- all carefully planned to put him out of Olivia’s favor. Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Feste all agree to help with the trick, which leads to Malvolio falling for it entirely and being confined as a madman.
Recommended publications
  • Downloading a Movie to Watch Together on a Saturday Night
    ADMISSION: FIGURING THE EARLY MODERN THEATRE by EVE PREUS B.A. (Honors), The University of Washington, 2004 M.A., The University of British Columbia, 2008 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULLFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES (English) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) December 2017 © Eve Preus, 2017 Abstract Drawing from theories of the theatre that interrogate the master image/metaphor of theatre-as-life, my thesis “Admission: Figuring the Early Modern Theatre” develops a poetics of admission, or a theory of early modern theatrical form that takes into account its penchant for metatheatrical device and its obsession with the incorporation of strangers. What is a stranger? What might it mean to integrate the Other into the self and into society? The theatre stages a face-to-face encounter between two ostensible strangers—the performers and the audience. At the level of the medium, then, is an interest in the ways we come to know and let others in. The early modern stage was extremely interested in this process, self-consciously experimenting with, interrogating, and evaluating the tensions and possibilities inherent in the articulation of the human via live illusion. While the influx and management of strangers were growing concerns in the burgeoning metropolis of early modern London, the theatre became a sight to organize these concerns in a way that, perhaps unconsciously, returned them to their metaphysical origins. My thesis examines several early modern characters that are strangers, or become strangers, within the communities of their respective play realities: the deposed King Richard II; the outcast Jewish money-lender, Shylock; the bastard son of Troy, Thersites; and the revenge tragedians and madmen, Hieronimo and Hamlet.
    [Show full text]
  • Shakespeare and Contagion – Abstracts
    SAA2015 – Seminar 37 – Shakespeare and Contagion – Abstracts Seminar Leaders: Mary Floyd-Wilson (University of North Carolina) and Darryl Chalk (University of Southern Queensland) Sabina Amanbayeva University of Delaware [email protected] “Falstaff’s Poisonous Affects: Politics and Physiology in 1 Henry IV” My paper is focused on the formation of intimacy through laughter in Shakespeare’s 1 Henry IV (1597). Using the framework of historical phenomenology and affect studies, I show how Falstaff’s jokes about his own body can actually be read as physiological manipulation and a political act. Early modern texts consistently associate the formation of illicit attachments with the work of poison and the subtle cunning of underworld figures. For instance, Thomas Dekker’s cony-catching pamphlets The Belman of London (1608) and Lanthorn and Candle-light (1608) take it as their guiding principle that cony-catchers commit their villanies through “breathes” and “vapours” that insidiously spread everywhere. A similar tactic, I argue, is at work in 1 Henry IV, where Falstaff’s jokes, called “vain comparatives” in the play, re-structure the relationship between the body and its environment by his successive spinning of new metaphors and thus new ways to imagine relations between self and other. The word-play between Hal and Falstaff becomes then a sort of titillation, playing with the body, as their mutual witticisms and jokes successively touch and re-touch each other’s contours. The essay contributes to the on-going conversation on affect and intimacy by bringing to the fore the physicality of early modern laughter and its ability to work like “poison” or contagious “vapour” in its creation of illicit intimacies.
    [Show full text]
  • The Validity of Hybridity in Derek Walcott's a Branch of the Blue Nile
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Academy Publication Online ISSN 1798-4769 Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 97-107, January 2018 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0901.12 The Validity of Hybridity in Derek Walcott’s A Branch of the Blue Nile Zohreh Ramin Department of English, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran Monireh Arvin Department of English, Alborz Campus, University of Tehran, Alborz, Iran Abstract―With A Branch of the Blue Nile (1983) Derek Walcott makes a strong statement for the validity of a hybrid West Indian culture. He portrays the relation between European, specifically English, as well as American and African culture as one that should not be marked by a hierarchy, placing the central culture and languages at the top and African or mixed cultures/languages at the bottom. Walcott’s strategy here is to show that the so–called standards, Shakespeare’s ‘classical’ plays and their language are already of a hybrid nature, and any attempt to characterise them as homogenous entities and preserve them as such may ultimately result in their inertness. What threatens a civilisation or culture, according to Walcott, is not some form of hybridity, but rather the closing off or preservation of artistic forms from other foreign influences because it makes these artistic forms incapable of interacting with the surrounding cultural environment. The authors of this paper while appreciating all the orchestrated bonus of the existing relevant criticisms on hybridity towards Walcott’s A Branch of the Blue Nile intend to examine the use of Bakhtinian notions with regard to language exemplifying Bakhtin’s view of linguistic interanimation and his insights into the “polyglotic” and “heteroglotic” nature of the play.
    [Show full text]
  • Shakespeare on Travel in As You Like It and Othello
    Selected Papers of the Ohio Valley Shakespeare Conference Volume 11 Article 4 2020 Knowing the World: Shakespeare on Travel in As You Like It and Othello David Summers Capital University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/spovsc Part of the Literature in English, British Isles Commons Please take a moment to share how this work helps you through this survey. Your feedback will be important as we plan further development of our repository. Recommended Citation Summers, David (2020) "Knowing the World: Shakespeare on Travel in As You Like It and Othello," Selected Papers of the Ohio Valley Shakespeare Conference: Vol. 11 , Article 4. Available at: https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/spovsc/vol11/iss1/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Literary Magazines at IdeaExchange@UAkron, the institutional repository of The University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, USA. It has been accepted for inclusion in Selected Papers of the Ohio Valley Shakespeare Conference by an authorized administrator of IdeaExchange@UAkron. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Knowing the World: Shakespeare on Travel in As You Like It and Othello David Summers, Capital University etting to know the world through personal travel, particularly by means of the “semester abroad,” seems to G me to be one of the least controversial planks in the Humanities professors’ manifesto. However, reading Shakespeare with an eye toward determining his attitude toward travel creates a disjuncture between our conviction that travel generally, and studying abroad in particular, is an enriching experience, and Shakespeare’s tendency to hold the benefits of travel suspect.
    [Show full text]
  • The Fools of Shakespeare's Romances
    Sede Amministrativa: Università degli Studi di Padova Dipartimento di Studi Linguistici e Letterari (DISLL) SCUOLA DI DOTTORATO DI RICERCA IN: Scienze Linguistiche, Filologiche e Letterarie INDIRIZZO: Filologie e Letterature Classiche e Moderne CICLO XXVI “Armine... thou art a foole and knaue”: The Fools of Shakespeare’s Romances Direttore della Scuola : Ch.ma Prof.ssa Rosanna Benacchio Supervisore : Ch.ma Prof.ssa Alessandra Petrina Dottoranda : Alice Equestri Abstract La mia tesi propone un’analisi dettagliata dei personaggi comici nei romances Shakespeariani (Pericles, Cymbeline, The Winter’s Tale e The Tempest) in particolare quelli creati appositamente per Robert Armin, attore comico di punta dei King’s Men in quel periodo. Nel primo capitolo traccio la presenza di Armin nei quattro testi, individuando cioè gli indizi che rimandano alla sua figura e alla tipologia di comicità tipica dei suoi personaggi precedenti in Shakespeare e di quelli presenti nelle sue stesse opere. I quattro personaggi creati per lui da Shakespeare vengono analizzati in profondità nei seguenti capitoli, raggruppandoli a seconda dei loro ruoli sociali o professioni. Nel secondo capitolo mi occupo dei fools criminali, considerando Pericles e The Winter’s Tale, dove i personaggi di Boult e Autolycus sono rispettivamente un ruffiano di bordello e un delinquente di strada. Nel terzo capitolo mi concentro invece sui personaggi che esibiscono o vengono discriminati per una reale od imputata deficienza congenita (natural folly): il principe Cloten in Cymbeline e Caliban in The Tempest. Per ciascun caso discuto il rapporto del personaggio con le fonti shakespeariane ed eventualmente con la tradizione comica precedente o contemporanea a Shakespeare, il ruolo all’interno del testo, e il modo in cui il personaggio suscita l’effetto comico.
    [Show full text]
  • Twelfth Night KEY CHARACTERS and SENSORY MOMENTS
    Twelfth Night KEY CHARACTERS AND SENSORY MOMENTS Characters Viola Sebastian Olivia Malvolio Sir Andrew Sir Toby Feste Maria Orsino Antonio Sensory Moments Below is a chronological summary of the key sensory moments in each act and scene. Latex balloons are used onstage throughout the show. Visual, dialogue or sound cues indicating dramatic changes in light, noise or movement are in bold. PRESHOW • A preshow announcement plays over the loudspeaker and instruments tune onstage. ACT ONE SCENE ONE SENSORY MOMENTS • Feste begins to sing a song. When he puts DESCRIPTION a paper ship in the water, the storm begins. At Duke Orsino’s palace in Illyria, Cesario and There is frequent loud thunder, flickering others sing for Orsino. He’s in love with the lights and flashes of lightning via strobe countess Olivia, but it’s unrequited because she lights. Actors shout during the turmoil, is in mourning for her brother and won’t receive cymbals crash and drums rumble. his messengers. • The storm sequence lasts about 90 seconds. • After the storm, lights slowly illuminate SENSORY MOMENTS the stage. • Actors begin singing a song. Orsino enters the stage and picks up a balloon. When he walks to the center of the stage, the balloon SCENE TWO pops loudly. • When Orsino says, “Love-thoughts lie rich DESCRIPTION when canopied with bowers,” the actors Viola washes ashore in Illyria, saved by the leave the stage, suspenseful music plays and ship’s captain. She asks the captain to help her the lights go dark. disguise herself so she can get work in Orsino’s court.
    [Show full text]
  • Shakespeare and Paul in Illyria
    6 Shakespeare and Paul in Illyria In his lectures on Twelfth Night Emrys Jones insisted that ‘the whole play drives toward the moment of the twins’ reunion’. Indeed, reunion – better yet, resurrection – is (to use Molly Mahood’s choice words) the principal ‘governing idea’ of the play. I will show that there is a link between reunion-resurrection, Candlemas, and William Shakespeare’s own real-life drama that has been overlooked by his commentators and is key to appreciat- ing his play. Twelfth Night begins with Viola convinced that her brother, Sebastian, is dead; with practically her first breath she tells us ‘My brother he is in Elysium’ (1.1.4). So what we will be confronted with in 5.1 is not merely a family reunion but something of a resur- rection. We must bear this in mind when we consider the personal significance for William Shakespeare of his play’s performance on Candlemas. Though we know Sebastian is alive, to Viola he is so convincingly dead that she has turned herself into his image. When she looks into her mirror she sees not herself but Sebastian. I my brother know Yet living in my glass; even such and so In favour was my brother, and he went Still in this fashion, colour, ornament, For him I imitate. (3.4.376–80, my emphasis) This echoes Constance’s (and Shakespeare’s) lament for a lost son in King John: ‘Grief fills the room up of my absent child … Puts on his pretty looks … Stuffs out his vacant garments’ (3.4.93–8, my emphasis).
    [Show full text]
  • Proposed Core Literature Titles Twelfth Night, Or, What You Will
    Proposed Core Literature Titles The following summary is provided by the California Department of Education’s “Recommended Literature List”, and the top three Google searches of the book title and author name that produced a description of the title. Twelfth Night, or, What You Will Proposed Grade Level: 8 Title: Twelfth Night, or, What You Will ​ ​ Author: William Shakespeare ​ First Published: 2002 ​ Lexile Level: 1140 ​ Proposed Grade Level: 8 ​ California Department of Education, Recommended Literature List: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/rl/ This title is on the CDE Recommended Literature List. Annotation: On the island of Illyria, Duke Orsino pines away for the love of the beautiful, but ​ unapproachable Olivia. A tempest occurs that brings Viola and Sebastian to the shores, and a renewed pursuing of affection begins among the island's inhabitants. (Circa 1600.) Copyright: 1992: ​ Original Copyright: 1600 ​ Grade Level Span: 9-12 ​ Genre: Drama ​ Classification: Classic ​ Topic: English-Language Arts/General ​ Discipline: English Language Arts/Vocabulary; Visual and Performing Arts ​ Descriptions From Top 3 Google Searches: Search: "Twelfth Night or What You Will" by William Shakespeare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_Night Viola is shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria and she comes ashore with the help of a Captain. She has lost contact with her twin brother, Sebastian, whom she believes to be drowned, and with the aid of the Captain, she disguises herself as a young man under the name Cesario and enters the service of Duke Orsino. Duke Orsino has convinced himself that he is in love with Olivia, who is mourning the recent deaths of her father and brother.
    [Show full text]
  • Study Guide 2017
    SHAKESPEARE IN THE SCHOOLS presents WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S TWELFTH NIGHT STUDY GUIDE 2017 Sidney E. Frank Foundation Montana Shakespeare in the Schools Montana Shakespeare in the Schools’ is an educational outreach program of production/program is part of Montana State University-Bozeman Shakespeare in American Communities, FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO: a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. www.shakespeareintheparks.org TABLETABLE OF OF CONTENTS CONTENTS Table of Contents ............................................................................2 Welcome Letter (from Kevin) ...................................................................3 Director’s Notes .............................................................................4 About the Play ...............................................................................5 Characters ................................................................................6 Synopsis .................................................................................7 Seeing the Play: Before and After ...............................................................8 What You Will, or What Will You... By Gretchen Minton, Ph.D. ........................................9 Themes and Questions to Explore Love...Is complicated. 11 Identity, Disguise and Stereotypes ...........................................................12 Righting Perceived Wrongs. 14 How SIS Meets Montana’s Common Core .......................................................15
    [Show full text]
  • Twelfth Night Edited by Rex Gibson Excerpt More Information
    Cambridge University Press 0521618770 - Twelfth Night Edited by Rex Gibson Excerpt More information List of characters Illyria The Duke’s court The Countess’s household Orsino, Duke of Illyria Olivia, a countess Valentine, a courtier Sir Toby Belch, her uncle Curio, a courtier Malvolio, her steward Musicians Feste, her fool Lords Maria, her gentlewoman Officers Fabian, a servant APriest ASea Captain The visitors Viola, later called Cesario Sebastian, her twin brother Sir Andrew Aguecheek, suitor to Olivia Antonio, a friend to Sebastian Sailors The action of the play takes place in Illyria 1 © Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 0521618770 - Twelfth Night Edited by Rex Gibson Excerpt More information Twelfth Night Orsino calls for music to feed his hunger for love. He reflects that love is like the sea, absorbing and devaluing every other experience. He claims to be completely obsessed by his love for Olivia. 1 Orsino: in love or infatuated? (in groups of three) The best approach to Scene 1 is to take parts as Orsino, Curio and Valentine, and read it through. Then change roles and read through again. Don’t worry about unfamiliar words in these read-throughs, but afterwards work on the following activities: a Love or infatuation? The opening lines suggest the play will be much about love. But what sort of love? You will find various expressions of love throughout Twelfth Night. Many people believe Orsino is not truly in love, but is just infatuated, and wallows in his emotions. To discover your own views, speak lines 1–15 in different ways (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Twelfth Night − Learning Pack Contents
    Twelfth Night − Learning Pack Contents About This Pack ................................................................1 Background Information ..................................................2 Teaching Information ........................................................4 Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis..................................6 Find Out More ...................................................................14 1 Twelfth Night − Learning Pack About This learning pack supports the National Theatre’s production of Twelfth Night, directed by Simon Godwin, which opened on 23rd February 2017 at the National’s Olivier Theatre in London. Our packs are designed to support viewing the recording on the National Theatre Collection. This pack provides links to the UK school curriculum and other productions in the Collection. It also has a plot synopsis with timecodes to allow you to jump to specific sections of the play. 1 Twelfth Night − Learning Pack Background Information Recording Date – 6th April, 2017 Location – Olivier Theatre, National Theatre Age Recommendation – 12+ Cast Viola.........................................................Tamara Lawrance Sebastian ..........................................................Daniel Ezra Orsino ............................................................... Oliver Chris Curio ...........................................................Emmanuel Kojo Valentine ...................................................... Brad Morrison Captain and Priest ...................................... James
    [Show full text]
  • 1. Shakespeare's Fools Costume Design
    1. Shakespeare’s Fools Costume Design - Oliver Cronk, London College of Fashion Director - Caroline Williams Museum Location - The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Galleries The Fool questions, probes and provokes. He disrupts form to reveal truth. He is an agent that bends or gnaws at the ear of the powerful. Our Tribe of Fools revels in unearthing the hidden through lucid observation. It whispers, laughs and dances through the constraints of environments in which it exists. Our Tribe of Fools draws on characters from across Shakespeare’s plays (Feste, Touchstone, the Gravediggers and Lear’s Fool). Analysis of the characterization and narrative function of these figures has allowed us to essentialise a ‘stock’ fool, which serves a performative model for our work. As the Shakespearean fool disrupts and alters the narrative mechanics of the plays it inhabits, so our performance seeks to distort experience and question the environments in which it occurs, be they in provincial England, the V&A Sculpture Galleries or beyond. In addition to our live performance, we also present a short film interpretation of a journey made by Shakespeare’s own ‘fool’ collaborator, William Kempe. In 1601, Kempe danced the entire way from London to Norwich. In response, our fools dance the entire way back. 2. The Merry Owls of Windsock Costume Design - Max Johns, Bristol Old Vic School Museum Location - The John Madejski Garden “Why not reclaim our distinctively human heritage as creatures who can generate their own ecstatic pleasures out of music, colour, feasting, and dance?” (Barbara Ehrenreich) When designing costumes for Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor Max was persistently drawn to the final scene at Herne’s Oak.
    [Show full text]