SHAKESPEARE SERIES: DIRECTING AND DESIGNING SHAKESPEARE WITH EM WEINSTEIN
Part of the enduring power of the works of William Shakespeare is the ability to take his tales almost anywhere: space, the battlefields of World War II, a teen movie beach club, and beyond! But when the options seem limitless, how does a director and their design team decide where to place their narrative? Join theater artist Em Weinstein (director and adaptor of A Little Shakespeare: Twelfth Night) in a discussion on how to direct and design Shakespeare plays. Em will be joined by designer Cole McCarthy as they explore possible worlds and settings, using Romeo and Juliet as an example.
One hour prior to the live event, you will be emailed a Zoom Meeting ID and Password from Two River Theater. To access the Zoom meeting, please follow the prompts from the link. You will be asked to download the free mobile or desktop app before joining.
FAQ
What will be covered at this workshop?
We will be talking about how to direct and design Shakespeare plays—in particular how to go about choose a world and/or a concept. We’ll be using Romeo and Juliet as an example and will be looking at sample productions from all over the world
How will the workshop be structured/shaped?
We will start by talking about the play and then I’ll lead participants through a super quick process of design and thematic research. The workshop will end with participants sharing their own ideas for how to stage the play.
Who should take this workshop?
Ages 14 and up are welcome!
What is needed to prepare for this workshop? Do you need to be a professional actor, or familiar with Shakespeare?
Participants should be familiar with Romeo and Juliet (brush up on the great tragedy with Two River Theater’s exploration of the play on YouTube! )
Is participation required?
Not required, but encouraged!
What will participants hopefully take away from this workshop?
I hope participants take away a stronger understanding of how to choose and create a world for a Shakespeare play. I also hope the workshop gives participants a greater vocabulary for interacting with Shakespeare productions in gen.