What we’re about
If you are a lover of Shakespeare, completely new to the Bard, were traumatized by a bitter high school English teacher, or WERE the bitter high school English teacher, this is the reading group for you! Explore Shakespeare's First Folio text aloud as the words were intended to be experienced, but without the pressure of performance or the stuffiness of a theater. Shakespeare is for everyone, and that includes you.
WHAT
In this four-week reading group, each reader will be assigned roles, and we will read through the play out loud together, pausing to discuss, gush, complain, or just to say we don't understand what the heck is being said. If you don't feel comfortable reading aloud but want to follow along, no problem! You are still very welcome to attend and join the discussion, or just listen in. No prior experience or education is required to participate, and while this close read will hopefully deepen an actor's comfort with Shakespeare, you do NOT need to be an actor.
WHY
Shakespeare's words are vibrant, stunning, troubling, silly, and sometimes very raunchy. The goal of this group is to create a space where everyone can approach and speak on these very human texts with their own very human experience, without the fear that they will be told their interpretation is wrong.
WHOMST
The close read will be facilitated by Mairi Chanel. Chanel is an associate artist with Incite Shakespeare Company, and has been a Shakespearean performer and educator for over 14 years. She is the former artistic director of &Sons Theatre, and the author of 'Lay Our Scene: An Interactive (And Highly Inaccurate) Re-telling of Romeo and Juliet'.
WHAT (ELSE)
This group will not tolerate any homophobia, transphobia, sexism, racism, or ableism. Casting within the reading will be according to reader preference for larger or smaller roles, and will then be randomized, with no restriction on what role an age or gender can play. We will vote as a group on if we would like to switch roles week by week, or if readers would prefer to stick to one character/set of characters for the duration of the series.
This event is FREE, drinks and food may be independently purchased at the venue. Donations to offset script printing and preparation time costs are greatly appreciated, but in no way required or expected!
