Monday, October 24, 2016

Monday Muse: Shakespeare Essays on Film

An international program to celebrate in 2016 the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, Living Shakespeare produces cultural and educational events and activities, including seminars, exhibitions, and stage and film shows, centered on Shakespeare. Activities are designed for a wide range of age groups, including teens and young learners. The program's organizing partners are the British Council and the GREAT Britain campaign (an international marketing initiative), which work with artists, theatres, museums, and educators to introduce the work of Shakespeare to as wide an audience as possible. (See the animation explaining the program).

In partnership with Open University and the BBC World Service, Living Shakespeare created a collection of Shakespeare-related essays, some of which have been reimagined in video format for broadcast.



All of the Living Shakespeare essays are online. Some of the essayists are Algerian writer Ahlem Mosteghanemi ("When Shakespeare Thought I Was Cleopatra"), Nigerian playwright and poet Wole Soyinka ("In the Name of Shakespeare"), diplomat John Kerry ("'As You Like It': The Inspiration of Comedy"), solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie ("Listening to 'The Tempest': A Tale to Cure Deafness"), and Lebanese choreographer Alissar Caracalla ("'Midsummer Night's Djinn: Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be!").

See the five films at the BBC page World's Voices Put the Bard Centre Stage.

Open University's "400 Years of Shakespeare"

British Council on FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo, and Instagram

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