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Shakespeare. Who was he? What is it? How do I speak it?. William Shakespeare. Born 1564, Died 1616 Father (John)-glove maker, became Mayor of Stratford, Mother (Mary Arden) Married Anne Hathaway, had 3 Children Attended Stratford Grammar School.
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Shakespeare Who was he? What is it? How do I speak it?
William Shakespeare • Born 1564, Died 1616 • Father (John)-glove maker, became Mayor of Stratford, Mother (Mary Arden) • Married Anne Hathaway, had 3 Children • Attended Stratford Grammar School
Shareholder of acting company in London, Chamberlain’s Men (King’s Men)—Built the Globe (1599) • Publishing plays was not common, and he most likely did not supervise the publishing of his plays • After he died, 36 of his plays were put together and published (1623)
Popular in his time • Became popular again in the 1800s, and has been since • Greatest playwright in the English Language • 37 plays, 154 sonnets
The Globe • First one burned down in 1613, and the second torn down in 1644 by Puritan Gov’t • Open to the sky with outside diameter of 84 feet • Three areas surrounded the pit (for groundlings) • No lighting or scenery was used, plays were performed in the afternoon
Permanent set, Tiring House • Thrust Stage with trap doors • Study- curtained area possibly for interior scenes • Tarras-balcony • Large canopy covered the stage • Globe was reconstructed and opened in 1997
Language • Where did language come from? • Language today has lost its sensory and emotional connection • In acting, the words must connect to emotion with both body and voice • Let the words create an experience within you and then respond to it
“Shakespeare’s use of words can paint scenery, change day into night, provoke attack, and evoke emotion, not only through imagery but through the sounds that make the words hold the imagery.”
The sounds within the words communicate mood and meaning • Most people breathe high in their chest • In order to find this connection you must breathe deep
Imagery • Imagery is very important • You must see, taste, touch, feel the words you are speaking • “The way you speak Shakespeare’s words will determine the depth at which you plumb his meaning.”
Sight and words need to work together • Patience and slowing down is needed to become aware of imagery • Think about how you already see imagery in daily life. • Any examples???
How do you Perform it? • Nicolas Rowe—Scene Divisions • They had a more intimate stage • The actors played off of the audience more than we do. • More air to their movements, more physical, more free • He wrote with the actor(s) in mind, specific to certain actors
Full voice, faster • Lots of Breath • Without pause to think/feel, instead think/feel on the words • The clues and actions are in the text • Keep the rhythm and flow • 1st and foremost: know the meaning
“Shakespeare allows a great margin of interpretation that can possibly be pinioned by any single mind” (110). • “The actor must use his own physical powers, his own mind, and his own personal quality” (110).
Breaking it down: Finding the Meaning • Iambic Pentameter: See Handout • They spoke differently • The words hold different meaning depending on the rhyme and verse • Operative Word • the most important word in a phrase, which explains the truth of a situation http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/the-operative-word
Sources • Taylor, Robert D. and Robert D. Strickland. Theatre Art in Action. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. • Linklater, Kristin. Freeing Shakespeare’s Voice. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 1992. • Webster, Margaret. Shakespeare Without Tears. New York: Dover Publications, 1955.
