Shakespeare Today

“There is no better way for an actor to train his intellect, his body, his breathing, his voice, and his skills in communicating with an audience than by playing Shakespeare”
Sir Peter Hall

Evidence suggests that in Shakespeare’s time, speech had richer vowels and percussive consonants. We can approach Shakespeare’s language like a score of music: penetrate its meaning and tap the deepest emotion behind the sound.

This interactive course works with Shakespeare’s words to discover the acting clues he provided within the texts, laying as he did so the very foundations of modern English.

No previous experience is necessary. Everyone is encouraged to be bold and allow the words to work; to move and improvise, like the best jazz players.

This term we will be see how Shakespeare has been interpreted and played on film, viewing excerpts from some of the greatest films of our time. We will also work with the Sonnets, discovering how they speak personally to all of us, today.

The course will appeal both to people who have been on it previously as well as to those for whom it would be entirely new.

Starts: 21 January 2012

Times 11.15 am – 12.30 pm

Presenter Neville Wortman

(Voice and drama coach, former BBC TV Staff producer, RADA Gold Shakespeare Certificate with Merit)

Fees £45 / concession or student £30

Enrol by phone – 020 7034 4000 or on arrival for first session