WEEK 6 – YOUR PRODUCTION

RESEARCH: Research your own Shakespeare play: Hamlet, Richard III, Macbeth, Measure for Measure. What is the play about? When was it first performed? Find a contemporary production of the play you can get an idea of and research it in terms of concept, style, design, casting. Give some attention to your own character and their role in the play.

Hamlet

What is it about ?

Hamlet is a shakespearean tragedy set ancient Denmark, which is based around a teenage boy named Hamlet. In the play, this father dies, and Hamlet later finds out that this father was murdered by his uncle Claudius, his father’s brother. On top of that after the death of his father, his mother goes on to marry this uncle Claudius. During the play Hamlet is visited by the ghosted on this dead father who tells him that it was his uncle who murdered him by pouring poison in this ear. Finding out this information takes a toll on Hamlet, and he is unsure who to trust, so feels he can’t to anyone about it. In my opinion the play is about the downfall of Hamlet’s mental health and the effect it has on his relationship between friends and family. For example, in the play you see the breakdown of this relationship with his girlfriend Ophelia, he starts to miss treat he, and sexual abuse her, with ends up making her become mentally unstable. The play ends with Hamlet murdering everyone or them committing suicide, all because he wanted to seek revenge for his father. To sum it up I think Hamlet is about the mental health of young people.

When was is first performed ?

I can not find a definite answer as to when Hamlet was first performance, it was in the early 1600’s, but some accounts say it was in 1607 on an East India Company’s ship.  However another account says in 1601 by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, it is also believed to be performed in 1608.

Contemporary performance

A contemporary version of Hamlet which took my interest is the Royal Exchange theatre’s production of Hamlet in 2014.

The most noticeable thing about this production of Hamlet is probably the casting, unlike many production of Hamlet, Hamlet as well as Polonius is played by women. I think this is a really interesting casting choice, and also one that I really feel worked. It was an extra selling point and it would have sparked conversation and interested in their production of Hamlet, as this hadn’t be done before. From the clips I have watched and the rehearse I have done, the female Hamlet worked well, I think it did make this Hamlet different to any other because the mannerism was different, and the relationship with other character’s was unique to others, which I feel was something really cool to see. I would have thought it before but changing the gender of Hamlet adds a slightly new dynamic to Hamlet, which I haven’t seen before. For example in the small clips I was able to watch, her portrayal of Hamlet was more fiery, and I could see a sly rudeness and mischievous, to her. Saying that, I don’t only think that Maxine Peake’s Hamlet had a different dynamic to the normal portrayal of the character’s. Also the character’s seemed a bit more edgy than what I have scene before, and just from the clips I saw of the products it look like the had clear intentions and character choices, which I thought was cool.

I also really liked the design of the play really complimented the acting as well.  I don’t want to repeat myself by using the same worlds but, but I feel the style and design of the play, had a real secret, edge and mysterious vibe to it. In the clip I saw they used dull lighting, there was no pop of colour, it look slick and set out. One particular thing that I really liked was the hanging bulb lights. It help create the atmosphere, and in my opinion in created this feeling of intimacy, because they lights wasn’t too bright and exposing, so as and audience member, i think it would make you feel more involved and like you’re in the room with the character’s a involved.   

I thought the style was really good as well, it felt really modern and enjoyable for a contemporary audience, they didn’t have the change the language or anything, it was just the way the performed it. There was not over the top Shakespearean acting, it just felt like pure acting with emotion and from the clips I saw it look like you could connect with the character’s and story.

From looking at the review and some scene footage i’ve watched on youtube, the portrayal of Hamlet was wonderful, and it was really helpful for me to watch because I am also playing a female Hamlet. I think there was so much passionate in Hamlet, and you could tell she wanted to seek revenge for her father, her portrayal of Hamlet was fearless. I don’t think she overplayed it either with is an easy trap to fall down when playing such a heavy and emotional role as Hamlet, it just feel natural and honest.  

Overall I think this contemporary production of Hamlet was amazing, it concept of modernising it, and the the twist of gender roles was something cool and unique, and I real  do wish I could have scene it at the Royal Exchange to see how it all pieced together.

WEEK 5 - SHAKESPEARE TODAY

QUESTION: Analyse contemporary Shakespeare productions with reference to live performances you may have seen or clips or footage available online. You should comment on what you notice about them and how they differ from what you know about the original performance conditions of Shakespeare’s work? (Don’t be afraid to point out the obvious).

Consider how these productions are employing all the techniques, technology and resources of modern theatre.

National theatre: Twelfth Night

One contemporary production of Shakespeare, was the national theatre’s modern interpretation of  Twelfth night. As soon as the production started, you could tell it would be action packed and exciting. From the set to the acting a lot of money had gone it to this remediation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Differ from the original

I believe the main difference between this version of Twelfth Night and Shakespeare original version, is the set and the lighting. What I’m by this in Shakespeare original production the set was very minimal and bare, unlike the national theatre’s where the set, and lighted played a heavy part in the show, they used intricate set, with the 360 rotation stairs, and the lights that were used to set the mood and tone. Set and lighting is often used in modern day theatre because it helps create the desired atmosphere, I think it adds more intensity and believability to a performance, and overall make the experience more enjoyable for the audience.  However this wasn't available during shakespeare’s time, so they had to rely pretty much solely on the actors, to create the world of the play, as they couldn’t use set and lighting for atmospheric effect.   

Another difference between this production the original is the audience, in the National theatre productions, the audience, only had to performance, in one direction, as the audience only slight curved round to the side, but only by a tiny bit. Unlike in the original production, and the audience would have been located in 3 sides around the stage, a thrust staging. Also there was no ‘Yard’ for the audience to watch the play from, they were all sitting in seats throughout the performance. This means doing shakespeare production, the actors would have need to be more warey about the body language on stage, to make sure they are not blocking for on side of the audience.

 

Midsummer Night’s Dream- Tiff (festival 2014)

Another modern adaptation/production of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night’s Dream. From watching a Clip of youtube, I can tell that their version of Midsummer Night’s Dream, is very different to the original. From the short clip, I could see that the direct took more of what I would call an ‘ modern artistic’ approach to the play. They was use of multimedia using projects,music, and movement.

Differ from the original

One of the more significant difference, which common in contemporary shakespeare, is that they had women actors as, well as men. This is something you would never see in shakespeare’s version, you would have the men playing the women. This because they felt that acting was a job only for men, and at the time, not something a women had the rights to participate in. Obviously time has moved on since then, and more time’s than not women will be playing female roles, unless it is for comedic effect. I think that having women play female parts make it more believable and more relateble when watching it.

From watching the clip I also think they used a lot of physical movements, to create the production, which as far as I know wasn’t used in Shakespeare’s original productions. I don’t think Shakespeare used it because it hadn’t yet be discovered as a way to tell/show theatre. I think adding physical theatre to the production, will add more depth in the performance, and will make the show more interesting as the will be more than one way to portray something to the audience.  

Another notable difference in the multimedia used in it, which I briefly mentioned before. In their production they used, projected onto the back, which showed loads of different videos with a sort of graphic design feel to them. The projects were used to add to the scene, and increase the mood, and create more of a tense atmosphere. The technology to do this wasn’t available during shakespeare time, which meant they could take advantage of the use of technology like Tiff could.

WEEK 4 - THEATRES, ACTORS AND ACTING IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIME

QUESTION: What were the theatres or ‘playhouses’ of Shakespeare’s time like and how were plays staged in them?

QUESTION: Who were the actors of Shakespeare’s plays and how did the experience of being an actor differ from the experience today?

http://www.folger.edu/Content/Discover-Shakespeare/Shakespeares-Theater/

Use the Globe’s fact sheets on Actors and Playhouses

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/education/discovery-space/fact-sheets

Question 1:

During shakespeare's time plays were not restricted to the stage, they were visitille, the same production could be put performanced at an outdoor playhouse, indoor theatre, a tour etc.  

Many of Shakespeare’s plays were performed in a playhouse theatre. In 1567 the first playhouse, the Red Lion was built,  by a John Brayne. As it was built, so long ago there isn’t a lot of facts or information about it, however it thought to be the kick start to many other playhouse opening.  

Almost 10 years later in 1576 Brayne and a man called James Burbage built the theatre, which was located just outside the city walls. This was one of the first playhouses in England since the Roman era. The structure was very similar to other playhouses of that time, it was a multi-sided structure with a central uncovered yard, this surrounded by a tiered sitting on each 3 sides, with a raised stage at one end of the yard. Shakespeare’s company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, was one of many to perform and the Theatre, around the time on 1594. A couple years down the line, the lease to the theatre was lost, so the construction of a bigger and better playhouse was built, The Globe. It Opened in 1599, and became the home of some of shakespeare’s most well known plays, the first being Julia Caesar in 1599, and others such as Hamlet, Macbeth and As you like it.

Question 2:

In shakespearean times being a professional actor was only an opportunity for men and boys, women weren’t allowed in this profession. This meant men would play all the female roles, such as, Ophelia and Desdemona. Like some actors in today’s time actors would start there training as young children. They could go one to join a company as an apprentice, and be mentored by an older actor.  The expected skill set of an actor were as follows, sword fighting, singing, dancing and a good memory for line learning.

The average day for an Shakespearean actors, is that they would perform during the afternoon as that was the best time for natural lighting,  and was spend the mornings rehearsing, however they did not have much rehearsal time. Most actors would often be in several plays with many parts at the same time. This is much unlike actors now days, they would spend several months prior to the show rehearsing the they would spend months putting on the same show, a matinee and evening performance. Now days it’s also highly unlikely they would be in more than one acting job at a time.

One of the main difference between actor in our time and in shakespearean times, is the way they learnt the part. Due to copyright issues they was not copies of the script, instead each actor was given a roll/scribe with their line and their cue line on it. However actors now will just be given a full script. This was a challenge for shakespearean actors, as it meant they always had to be alert to make sure they didn’t miss their line, and they always had to present in the moment.

WEEK 3 - SHAKESPEARE’S LONDON AND ELIZABETHAN AUDIENCES

QUESTION: What was London like in Elizabethan times and who were the people attending the theatre?

You can start by reading the ‘London’ and ‘Audiences’ factsheets on the Globe website.

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/education/discovery-space/fact-sheets

In Elizabethan times London had a fast growing population, which was some what manageable due to its large size. The growth in population was mainly down to the high amount number of migrants moving to London from the countryside and Europe. It is estimated that between the years 1550-1600 the resident number went from 50,000 to over 200,000. During this time period London was a very built up area, if there was any available space, there was a building work happening on it, it would get some busy that you simply wouldn’t be able to walk on the streets, which brought thieves and disease.

One of the most impacting thing that happened in Elizabethan London was the outbreak of the plague. It mainly arose in the summer as the heat and over crowdedness made it easier for bacteria the speed. The biggest outbreak happened in 1593, when around 10,000 people died from it. Due to the rapid spread of the plague everyday life couldn’t continue as normal, and places such as theatres had to shut down.

London wasn’t only one of the biggest and most populated city in England it was also the richest, it housed the first permanent playhouse, which is another term for a theatre, for example The Globe. It was also home the many wealthy people such as traders and manufacturers. Elizabethan houses were known for their recognizable structures, and can still be seen in today's society, which proves how sturdy they were. They used massive upright timbers, supported by diagonal ones, which white wash walls. This created the famous black and which half-timbered Elizabethan houses.

The theatre was a big part of Elizabethan London, and was a leisurely experience enjoyed by many. Surprising the theatre was available to almost any, although generally more men went then women.  The price of the theatre varied depending your allocated viewing area. In an open air theatre the cheapest price was only 1 penny, this meant you were with the groundings, standing in the yard which was surrounding the stage. For an extra penny you could watch the performance from the bench seat in the lower gallery, again for another penny you could seat which a cushion for extra comfort.  The most expensive was in the lord’s room, which is where the rich people would sit. For this the starting price was 6 pence.  

The audience used to get involved in the performance going on, on stage, and they more often than not didn’t sit in silence. They clapped the heroes and booed the villains, and cheered the special effects, not really like theatre today where everyone is more respectful.

Thieves were also common in the audience, and sometimes even fights broke out, but . In 1612, magistrates banned music at the end of plays at the Fortune, saying the crowd had caused ‘tumults and outrages’ with their dances.

Other all the theatre was an experienced of the theatre was an enjoyable, and due to it’s variety in prices it was available to a wide range of people, which meant it was extremely popular form of entertainment.  

WEEK 2 - SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE AND BIOGRAPHY

RESEARCH: Research Shakespeare’s life, ensuring you include information about his origins, family, relationships, the world he lived in and questions surrounding his work.

Visit the Folger Shakespeare Library Website and working from the ‘Discover Shakespeare’ Tab you work through the information regarding Shakespeare’s Life. http://www.folger.edu/Content/Discover-Shakespeare/Shakespeares-Life/

You can also read the ‘William Shakespeare Fact Sheet’ on the Globe website.

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/education/discovery-space/fact-sheets

Research on William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is a famous English playwright and poet, he is also known to do some acting in his time.  

Due to the fact his was born over 400 years ago, it hard to know everything about his life, and the time period his was live in, as many files from that time were lost or they never existed.  It is most likely shakespeare was born around April 26th 1564, near the area of Northwest of London,  as there’s proof he was Baptized on this date at the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-Upon-Avon. He is the children of John and Mary Shakespeare and the oldest children to survive out of his siblings. This father was a leatherworker, making material often used for gloves. John rose in the business world and when William was 5 John became the town bailiff which is similar to a mayor.  Since his dad was wealthy and high up in the social system it’s most certain William attended Stratford’s grammar school, studying mainly latin.  He mostly likely attended school until the age of 15.

In the later side of 1582,  not long after he left school, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare was 18, and Anne Hathaway was 26.  She gave birth to their first born Susanna not long after their marriage, then at the start of 1585 they had twins Judith and Hamnet which was the last children they would have. Shakespeare bought a house in Stratford where him and his family lived, however he spent most of his time in London due to his work . Unfortunately in 1596 his son Hamnet died at the age of 11, how his daughter did go on to marry, Susanna married a well of doctor John Hall, and made Shakespeare and grandparent with their daughter Elizabeth in 1608. Not long before his died Judith married Thomas Quiney who was a Vintner.

There is a break in the record as to what Shakespeare was doing after the birth of his twins in 1585, apart from that he created his own theatre.  However in there is proof that by 1952 he was an established London actor and playwright. He also had several roles as an actor, writer and occasionally as a major business partner with the  acting company, Lord Chamberlain's Men.  Over the years he became more well known.

Most of Shakespeare’s investments went into real-estate, he purchased the second largest house in the town New Place in 1597, so he was definitely a wealthy man.   One of the last play that he work on was The Two Noble Kinsmen, which was written in collaboration with John Fletcher.  It commonly thought that he died on April 23rd 1616, he cause of his death being unknown. He was buried at the Holy Trinity Church, the place of his Baptism.

WEEK 1 - SETTING THE SCENE – LIFE IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND

The Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England is a documentary that first aired on the BBC in 2013. It gives insights into life in Elizabethan England. Below is a link to a series of clips on the BBC website which you should watch to gain an insight into life in this period. As you watch the clips and make notes bear in mind the question below.

QUESTION: What sense do you get of what life was like in Elizabethan England? Try to include information on: The population, entertainment, religion, superstition, money, jobs, medicine, theatre.

Life for the poor

In the countryside in Elizabethan England many people were poor, and in that time period the chances were higher that you would end up being part of the poor population. They lived on heaths, hills and wasteland, it was known to be a dangerous place, always busy and noisy and there was no roads across them only muddy paths, and at the time they were seen as horrific and dirty, anything but beautiful.  Dotting around the countryside were small hut life homes, which usually accommodated 7-8 people, whoever lived in these houses were very,very poor.

Life inside these cottages were dark, due to their source of life only being the sun. It was also basic, with only one room without proper flooring, and in the middle of the room there is a firer. The firer is constantly alight, which means the room fills with thick smoke. It was also cold in the collage because there was no insulation, so to keep as much heat in and cold out the windows were very small.

The society in in Elizabethan times were very divided depending to the class you were born into. Job options in the countryside were limited, you could be:

Yeaman - This is someone who owns their own farm and gets workers to work in it.

Husbandman - Rents out land from the Husbandman so that he can work in it.

However, you highest chance to get a job was to go to different farmers offering your services as a labourer, which is when you work on somebody else farm. The working day was long and hard, it would start at the early morning and continue to sunset. You earning for the day’s work would be a ‘groat’, made of 2.1grams of pure silver, and it is also known as fourpence (for english pennies).  This was not enough money to for a family to live on, to get you an idea,

A chicken: 4p

A lemon: 3p

Generally a family earning fourpence a day would live of a loaf of bread, a small amount of butter, cheese, 4 small pieces of meat, 3 piece of fish and ale to drink, as the water was polluted. This is 6000 calories per day to spread across a household of 7-8.

During the Elizabethan era is when books became more available to mass as printer has been invented. This meant people from different classes had the chance to read books and educate themselves whilst at home. This meant people started to learn, read and teacher more about religion a because the bible was now printed in English.    

Approaching the 1598 different thing started to be developed and invented, people started moving to the city because house were being built and rebuilt. The population was also increasing, it went from 3.2 to 4.1 million, his is a growth of 25%. A big deal at the time was chimneys, people who could afford had chimneys built into their home, which meant that houses were not filled with smoke from their fires.

As I said before books were now available to a wider range of people. Before it was only to extremely wealthy who could be educated, but now grammar schools were being opened for boys where they had the opportunity to head and write in Latin.  At the started to the Elizabethan era 1 in 10 men could write how by then end to Elizabethan reign 1 in for could write. The percentage of women that could read also went up by 10%. This meant both men and women were able to publish their work  this meant there was more jobs.