Let’s face it, we all remember sitting in an English lesson at school, gazing out of the window while our English teacher waxed lyrical about Shakespeare being the greatest thing since sliced bread. In my opinion, the way we teach Shakespeare in schools is alienating a whole generation. Too many people are afraid to pick up a Shakespeare play or attend a three-hour theatre production because of traumatic flashbacks to Mr Smith’s over-the-top Lady Macbeth performance when they were sixteen.
The problem and solution are simple: Shakespeare was designed to be performed, not read.
Here at Crew of Patches Theatre Company, we aim to revolutionise how twenty-first-century audiences perceive these plays. We understand there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Too many people have been irrevocably scarred by Shakespeare, consequently passing this aversion on to their children. The language barrier is a significant obstacle, alienating ordinary people – precisely the audience Shakespeare was trying to reach.
I don’t claim to be an expert; on the contrary, the more I delve into Shakespeare, the more I realise everyone is equally baffled. Nevertheless, here are two key principles essential to any Crew of Patches performance to broaden Shakespeare’s appeal.
Explanations and Translations
Have you ever been in a foreign country, only to discover your five-week Duolingo course hasn’t prepared you for the local dialect and rapid-fire conversation? I have a
basic grasp of Spanish phrases,but when a native speaker talks at a hundred miles an hour, I struggle to understand even the simplest words. I often resort to the classic British plea, “Do you speak English?”, and ask for a translation. The truth is, true fluency comes from prolonged immersion in a language.
The same applies to Shakespeare. Even for native English speakers, the Elizabethan text is so distant from modern speech that it’s practically a foreign language. Any competent actor translates Shakespeare into contemporary English before performing it in Elizabethan style. The renowned Shakespeare director Gregory Doran used to make his actors paraphrase the entire play! Authentic performance requires understanding the text.
We can’t expect the audience to comprehend every word. It’s unrealistic, and it alienates them when they’re essentially listening to a foreign language. At Crew of Patches, we incorporate explanations into our shows. Before performing any Shakespeare, we clarify what’s about to happen, allowing the audience to focus on the performance rather than mentally translating. Children quickly lose interest if the material is too challenging. By explaining the scene beforehand, we hope to make the performance more accessible to everyone.
Fun and Interactive We’re more engaged in something if we’re actively involved. It’s challenging to introduce Shakespeare to people who believe it’s only for scholars and academics. We strive to make our shows as interactive and fun as possible. Audience participation is a common feature of Crew of Patches productions. We don’t expect silence; we want the audience to feel like an extra character. This extends to accessibility. We call it #accessibleshakespeare. Our productions are free from loud bangs, strobe lights, and special effects. We keep the house lights on in the theatre, creating a welcoming atmosphere. We want the audience to join us on a journey,without feeling hindered by modern theatrical conventions. Some people are hands-on learners, and we offer opportunities for audience members to take to the stage and become part of the story.
Conclusion
Shakespeare is far from dead. In fact, he’s experiencing a renaissance in twenty-first-century Britain.However, we believe it’s our responsibility to share the Bard’s magic with as many people as possible.
If you’re still hesitant about Shakespeare, why not give one of our productions a try?
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