Friday, February 10, 2006

Shakespeare at Stratford: Text and Theater
Shakespeare Centre
Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
July 2-July 8, 2006
$1125 (approx.)

Plans are currently underway for the 2006 week-long program at the Shakespeare Centre in Stratford-Upon-Avon, scheduled to run from July 2-July 8, 2006. The course includes attendance at five Shakespearean plays by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre augmented by pre-performance lectures and post-performance discussions presented by resident experts.
(Past speakers have included: Professor Miriam Gilbert, from the University of Iowa and author of Shakespeare in Performance at Stratford: The Merchant of Venice, and Dr. Robert Smallwood, past director of the Shakespeare Centre in Stratford.) Our study of text and performance will be further enhanced by leading RST actors who will appear in the class as guest speakers and talk about their roles in the plays we see.

The proposed schedule of plays for the course is as follows:
Sunday 2 July - Arrive
Monday 3 July - Romeo & Juliet 7.30pm RST
Tuesday 4 July - Julius Caesar 7:30 pm RST
Wednesday 5 July - Free Night
Thursday 6 July - Henry IV Prt 1 1:15 pm Swan; Henry IV Part 2 7:15 pm Swan
Friday 7 July - Henry VI Courtyard 7.30pm
Saturday 8 July - Depart

The preliminary estimated cost of $1125 includes the cost for theatre tickets to the five plays, fall pre- and post-performance lectures and discussions, housing* for the duration of the program, all breakfasts and one dinner, reading privileges at the Shakespeare Centre Library, and either a voice or a makeup & wigs lesson from an RST professional.

This cost does NOT include your travel to and from Stratford from the U.S. Final actual cost will depend on the rate of exchange and the total number of participants. (There is a minimum of 15 required for the course to make, but the way the program is budgeted, the more people who enroll, the lower the per- capita cost. There is a good chance that this cost will drop to about $1000, as preliminary feedback suggests that we will surpass the 20- person limit needed to drop the costs to the next lower pricing band.) NO ONE WILL BE REQUIRED TO
COMMIT TO ENROLLING OR TO MAKING ANY PAYMENT UNTIL ACTUAL COST has been determined.

If you think you might be interested in taking part in this exciting venture, or if you would like further information, please contact Carolyn Henly at: StratfordUK2006@cs.com or at her work number: 804-743-3683. She will keep you posted as the course takes shape and you can make a final decision about attending when details are finalized!

* Housing is in local Bed and Breakfast Inns; the cost quoted is for double-occupancy; it may be possible to request singles, but if you are interested in that, you will probably have to pay the full cost for the double-room.

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