Performative Approches to Shakespeare: On- and Offline

Course content

Many theatres, like London’s Globe Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, work with performative and active drama approaches when studying Shakespeare’s plays. This applies to both the rehearsal processes as well as the theatres’ educational programmes. Therefore, they offer workshops to explore characters, plotlines, themes, and language via a creative, physical, and hands-on experience for visitors ranging from beginners to versed Shakespeare fans. Their take on Shakespeare is like the one we shall follow in this class: the plays are meant to be performed and invite creative interaction.

Therefore, we shall explore different types of performative and active approaches to Shake-spearean plays and poetry, ranging from performances to workshop and teaching materials. We will try exercises as well as create our own ones for all kinds of learning environments, on- and offline. Although we will mainly take on the perspective of a Shakespeare scholar and fo-cus on the interpretations of characters, plotlines, and themes offered in these materials, we will additionally be treated to the didactic perspective by Ron Freytag in some of the sessions. This way, we also have the pleasure of exploring the potential of these performative ap-proaches for the EFL-classroom. The selection of plays will be decided on together in the first weeks of the seminar. However, please (re-)read Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream before the first session. You can choose any edition of the plays; yet the Arden editions are highly recommended.