Shakespeare aficionados: My 14yo is very into theatre, but new-ish to Shakespeare (knows R&J, Midsummer, etc). Yet, she is leaping into the deep end, attending live performances of Richard II and Cymbeline next month. Any recommendations for adaptations/podcasts we should watch/hear in preparation? - ThreadSky

caitlindeangelis.bsky.social • 30 days ago

Shakespeare aficionados:
My 14yo is very into theatre, but new-ish to Shakespeare (knows R&J, Midsummer, etc).
Yet, she is leaping into the deep end, attending live performances of Richard II and Cymbeline next month. Any recommendations for adaptations/podcasts we should watch/hear in preparation?

Comments

dreadships.bsky.social•30 days ago

I took my two to see Cymbeline a couple of years ago aged 14 and 11. No preparation in advance and absolutely no problems at all (I think the youngest lost the plot at one early point, but they've always been encouraged to just hang in there because it will snap back into focus - and it did)

dreadships.bsky.social•30 days ago

Personally it'd probably be more useful to explain what to expect - yes, you can laugh; people will not find a teenager being there in any way unusual or regrettable; and Shakespeare is often more interested in the sound of language than the meaning so don't be afraid to just let bits wash over you.

dreadships.bsky.social•30 days ago

Above all ENJOY IT!

I'm seriously jealous of your kid for getting to see the proper, strong stuff for the first time, and jealous of you getting to see it happen!

caitlindeangelis.bsky.social•30 days ago

We are excited! We are seeing Cymbeline at the Globe in the candlelit theatre, so that will be interesting no matter what!

simonjones.bsky.social•30 days ago

The Sam Wanamaker is a beautiful tiny theatre. I saw Cymbeline there 10 years ago, not the greatest production but a lovely experience!

mightygwyn.bsky.social•30 days ago

If she is interested in language, perhaps https://www.shakespeareswords.com/ might be worth dipping into. David Crystal is a linguist who has worked to promote understanding of Shakespeare text & original language, so the site has the original side by side with modern spellings & a vocab glossary.

mightygwyn.bsky.social•30 days ago

I think it's worth a targeted search on his name + Shakespeare: lots of books and some videos with his son Ben. I enjoyed a course he taught on language ages ago.

When I was a Head of Drama with teens we used Playing Shakespeare by John Barton - book & mini TV series. Widely available second hand.

caitlindeangelis.bsky.social•30 days ago

Thank you!

scornflakegrrrl.bsky.social•30 days ago

I love David Crystal! He’s done so much to make linguistics really accessible

danielhayward.bsky.social•30 days ago

I have watched a lot of film adaptations of Shakespeare, and have only seen Richard II as part of The Hollow Crown, but looked on IMDB and there are a couple of adaptations of Cymbeline - one from 2014 with Ethan Hawke and Ed Harris, and a recent stage production.

strawbelbadude.bsky.social•30 days ago

Not a video performance but a book, Will Power by John Basil. He was my Shakespeare teacher and that book is a remarkable resource for understanding the text, especially in context of performance.

caitlindeangelis.bsky.social•30 days ago

Thank you!

vjpsyverson.bsky.social•30 days ago

The Royal Shakespeare Company did a Richard II some years ago with David Tennant in the lead role, and I remember it being good. Sort of Gothic vibes, moody high-angle lighting and such.

dconaty.bsky.social•30 days ago

I recently read "Shakespeare: The Men Who Pays the Rent", which is Brendan O'Hea and Judi Dench in dialogue about her experiences performing various Shakespeare characters. I found her insights into the characters fascinating - and often very funny.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shakespeare-judi-dench/1143331012?ean=9781250325778

paulguinnessy.bsky.social•30 days ago

This might help, particularly week 44 that talks about Cymbeline. https://www.shakespearetheatre.org/events/shakespeare-hour-live-21-22/

caitlindeangelis.bsky.social•30 days ago

Thank you!

paulguinnessy.bsky.social•30 days ago

And if you ever come to DC, the Shakespeare Theater is great (so is the Folger) and if you go to London, then the Globe is a must, but if they have an indoor performance, attend that as its by candlelight (even during daytime).

scornflakegrrrl.bsky.social•30 days ago

And if you do the outdoor performance absolutely go for the (cheap) groundlings tickets rather than seated. It’s the best way to experience it

edelsemple.bsky.social•30 days ago

I see #Shakespeare and “very into theatre” and gotta recommend the excellent podcast of @reduced.bsky.social 🎭

caitlindeangelis.bsky.social•30 days ago

Thank you!

reduced.bsky.social•30 days ago

What, this old thing? (Available wherever you get your podcasts.)
https://www.reducedshakespeare.com/podcasts/

queenbre.bsky.social•30 days ago

I highly recommend the Folgers editions of the plays as they have great annotations/explanations!
They also have an excellent podcast!

historygirl.bsky.social•30 days ago

We saw Richard ii at the globe and it was great...I had no prior knowledge about it. Apparently they've also done an all female casting?

caitlindeangelis.bsky.social•30 days ago

We are going to see Cymbeline at the Globe (the indoor theatre, not the outdoor because February)

historygirl.bsky.social•30 days ago

Oh that is so fun. I took my husband to see Richard ii and Hamlet there because he loves Shakespeare and I don't know much about it but enjoyed the performances. Oh you should do the brass rubbings at St Martin's in the fields!

dreadpiratemama.bsky.social•30 days ago

You want to listen to old podcast episodes of No Holds Bard. It was by 2 dudes who ran a small Shakespeare group. They do 30 minute eps called “So You’re Going to See [play title]” that give an excellent breakdown of the show before you go. My theatre-loving teen approves!

dreadpiratemama.bsky.social•30 days ago

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-holds-bard/id975059450?i=1000399044912

aliped.bsky.social•30 days ago

For RII (I’m going to the Bridge next month to see it😁) I’d suggest having an outline of the real historical events. I studied it for ALevel years ago and knowing that helped. As for Cymbeline more difficult! Suggest looking at short study guides.

aliped.bsky.social•30 days ago

Couldn’t resist this though …

caitlindeangelis.bsky.social•30 days ago

If I were devising a Shakespeare curriculum for a young teen, I probably would not have chosen these particular plays, but they are what's on during her school vacation.

starcrossed2018.bsky.social•30 days ago

I wrote one of my daily #SlowShakespeare blogs about RII in 2020-21... https://www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/kinged-unkinged/2020/09/03/and-were-off-a-quarrel-with-a-back-story-1-1-1-7-kingedunkinged/ if you fancy an incredibly close reading of it?! The RSC website has great resources? Second the Hollow Crown for RII.

caitlindeangelis.bsky.social•30 days ago

Thank you!

howardm.bsky.social•30 days ago

There's a very funny and charming Canadian TV show called Slings & Arrows, about a theater company; each of three seasons parallel the Shakespeare production they're doing.

fridolfsdotter.bsky.social•30 days ago

It’s marvelous! Also The Hollow Crown (and The Hollow Crown—War of the Roses) is great. The first play is Richard II (with Ben Whishaw).

fridolfsdotter.bsky.social•30 days ago

Cymbeline is more off the beaten path but my kid did it in college. And then I saw it at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. And I think The Globe in London is doing it so they might have resources.

caitlindeangelis.bsky.social•30 days ago

Yes, we are going to see it at the Globe - I will look at the website and see if they have any suggestions!

doc-herber.bsky.social•30 days ago

I was coming in the comments to see if someone recommended the Hollow Crown version of R2! It's glorious, isn't it? :D

fridolfsdotter.bsky.social•30 days ago

I had never seen that play (I know!) and I shed quite a few tears. I often think of it.

caitlindeangelis.bsky.social•30 days ago

I will look to see if I can find this. Sounds like something she would enjoy!

jennwong.bsky.social•30 days ago

All of the Hollow Crown series

caitlindeangelis.bsky.social•30 days ago

Looking this up . . . ooh, I love Ben Wishaw!

fridolfsdotter.bsky.social•30 days ago

SO GOOD

poorfrankraw.co.uk•30 days ago

Unqualified to offer advice, but in 1987 we saw Brian Cox in Titus Andronicus and it was the most brutal evening I experienced since I stopped working in operating theatres. Teenagers on the front row (in the round) were clearly traumatised. One to avoid for a few years 😱

curatorian.bsky.social•30 days ago

Can't remember if I listened to it, but The Rest Is History apparently did a series on Richard II.

seanmac31.bsky.social•30 days ago

They did.

caitlindeangelis.bsky.social•30 days ago

Excellent — the historical context will help get me invested as well

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