Monthly Archives: October 2013

Shakespeare’s crows and hateful ravens

When Shakespeare wanted to conjure up a sense of foreboding he often used the image of the birds of the crow family: crows, magpies, ravens and rooks. Lady Macbeth chillingly predicts the King’s murder: The raven himself is hoarse That … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare’s crows and hateful ravens

“Far more fair than black”: Cleopatra, Othello and blacks in Renaissance England

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s new production of Antony and Cleopatra will, for the first time in its history, feature a black actress, Joaquina Kalukango, as Cleopatra. It’s a co-production between the RSC, the Public Theatre, New York and Gablestage, Miami, … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Shakespeare on Stage, Shakespeare's World | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Elizabeth 1 and her people in portrait and performance

The new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, Elizabeth I and her people, puts on display a glorious collection of portraits of Elizabethans, supported by objects, manuscripts and books that provide some background to the world in which these people … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Shakespeare's World | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Elizabeth 1 and her people in portrait and performance

Richard II at the RSC

The RSC’s Richard II is onstage at last, and I’ve got to one of the performances. I’ve seen quite a few past productions of the play onstage, some extremely memorable. Like Hamlet, it’s often judged by its central performance, but … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Plays and Poems, Shakespeare on Stage | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Elizabeth 1 and her people

Our fascination with the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods shows no sign of abating.  Lives of the monarch and courtiers have always been recorded but in recent years it’s apparent that there is much evidence for the lives of ordinary citizens … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy, Shakespeare's World, Stratford-upon-Avon | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Elizabeth 1 and her people

Shakespeare and the National Theatre

On 15 October it was announced that Rufus Norris was to be appointed to the most important job in UK theatre, as Artistic Director of the National Theatre, taking over in April 2015. Then next week, on 22nd October the … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy, Shakespeare on Stage | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare and the National Theatre

Screening Shakespeare: to adapt or not to adapt?

Last week, the Stratford Shakespeare Club’s monthly lecture was given by Daniel Rosenthal, the author of  Shakespeare on Screen and the BFI Screen Guide 100 Shakespeare Films. In her foreword to the latter book the director of Titus, Julie Taymor, claims that “Shakespeare is … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Screening Shakespeare: to adapt or not to adapt?

An obscure grave: did Shakespeare write the memorial verses at Tong?

A couple of years ago I wrote a piece about the two epitaphs inscribed at the ends of  a tomb in the church in the village of Tong, Shropshire. I was intrigued by them, and by the tradition that the … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Shakespeare's World | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on An obscure grave: did Shakespeare write the memorial verses at Tong?

If music and sweet poetry agree: Stratford-upon-Avon’s Festival

On Saturday morning Stratford-upon-Avon’s Music Festival began with a Festival Fanfare entitled Lend Me Your Ears, played by the brass ensemble from King Edward VI School. Performed on the steps of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre it was a reminder of … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Legacy, Shakespeare on Stage, Stratford-upon-Avon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Celebrating Stage Management Day

Rather late in the day I heard that 10 October 2013 is being celebrated as the first Stage Management Day. Stage managers are some of the unsung heroes of the theatre world, people who the audience rarely sees, but who … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Shakespeare on Stage | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Celebrating Stage Management Day