Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre has changed direction in the face of mounting costs and falling donations by focusing its attention on bringing a minimalist production of Hamlet to schools in Montco and the surrounding area, writes Tirdad Derakhshani for Philly.com.
According to Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre’s founder and artistic director, Carmen Khan, the tour is part of the company’s renewed commitment to developing and expanding its educational programs.
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The company also offers a residency program where Shakespearean actors work directly with high school English classes.
The company’s take on Shakespeare is very helpful for the teachers.
“When you try to bring Shakespeare to your students in 2017, you’re initially going to be met with groans,” said Emily Brady, the English and Italian teacher at Lansdale Catholic High School.
However, that changed when Khan and her players visited the school, said Brady. Students were able to get over their initial intimidation of the text when engrossed in the play that was taking shape in front of them.
Sheryl Forste-Grupp, a teacher at Bryn Mawr’s Baldwin School, said the performance is an important reminder that Shakespeare was meant to be performed, not read like novels.
“They are nothing like novels,” she said.
Read more about the production at Philly.com by clicking here.
