At Shakespeare in the Ruff, we have always offered training opportunities for professional artists. That has taken the form of Shakespearean Masterclasses with top classical actors, audition workshops, and more recently as our Reimagining the Canon workshop for creators interested in adaptation. But we also wanted to offer something to you, our Ruff audiences and supporters, who may have a passion for theatre, language, and Shakespeare, but don’t practice it professionally.
Introduction to Understanding Shakespeare is designed specifically for non-professional theatre-lovers who would like to gain a better grasp (or a beginners grasp!) on the language of Shakespeare’s plays. No acting or theatre experience is required.
Led by actors Christine Horne and Kwaku Okyere, this class is a window into the work actors do to understand Shakespeare’s plays. While the plays are rich and beautiful, the language can be really hard. It can seem impenetrable. It can be confusing and frustrating. As actors, we know this better than anyone. And we have the tools and experience to help you break through the barriers to understanding what the heck is going on.
As an added experience to deepen your appreciation of the process artists go through when creating a Shakespeare play, you can also join Kwaku and Christine in Withrow Park for a performance of our summer production of Otîhêw, an Indigenous retelling of Othello by PJ Prudat. A private talkback with PJ will follow the performance.
Introduction to Understanding Shakespeare runs Tuesday evenings from May 17th to June 21st on Zoom. If you have any questions, contact Jeff Yung at jeff@shakespeareintheruff.com.
We hope to see you soon!
Event Information
LOCATION: Zoom Platform
DATES & TIME: Classes will be once a week on Tuesday nights from 7:30PM – 9:30PM EST, starting Tuesday May 17, 2022
May 17, 2022 – 7:30PM – 9:30PM EST
May 24, 2022 – 7:30PM – 9:30PM EST
May 31, 2022 – 7:30PM – 9:30PM EST
June 7, 2022 – 7:30PM – 9:30PM EST
June 14, 2022 – 7:30PM – 9:30PM EST
June 21, 2022 – 7:30PM – 9:30PM EST
COST: Choose your experience! Take the class on it’s own, or join us for a special performance of our summer production – Otîhêw, an Indigenous retelling of Othello by PJ Prudat – followed by a post-show talkback with the playwright (PJ, not Shakespeare).
Class only: $250
Fee includes: 6 Zoom classes with Kwaku Okyere and Christine Horne
Class plus performance and talkback: $300
Fee includes: 6 Zoom classes with Kwaku Okyere and Christine Horne
A pair of tickets to Otîhêw on Wednesday, August 24th, 2022
A post-show talkback with playwright PJ Prudat
About Christine Horne and Kwaku Okyere:
Ruff audiences will remember Kwaku and Christine from Portia’s Julius Caesar – Kwaku as the conspirator Cassius and Christine as Portia herself. Outside of Ruff, Kwaku recently played Oberon in Theatre Rusticle’s sold-out production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and teaches Shakespeare at George Brown College and Sheridan College. Christine plays Hamlet in Why Not Theatre’s groundbreaking bilingual ASL-English production of Prince Hamlet, has played many of Shakespeare’s female characters including Juliet, Desdemona, and Viola, and most recently co-adapted R+J for the Stratford Festival. Kwaku and Christine are part of the Collective Artistic Leadership at Shakespeare in the Ruff.