THTR3386 · Theater

Shakespeare on the Stage

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

William Shakespeare wrote his plays to be performed. Consequently, the most effective method of understanding his work is through performance. Lectures will describe the condition of Elizabethan England and its theatre, providing a larger social and historical context in which to view the playwright and his work. The class will read, analyze and discuss some ten to twelve Shakespearean plays, including his comedies, tragedies, history plays, and the so-called problem plays. Students will also be expected to perform scenes form Shakespeare's plays, not to show off their acting skills, but rather as a means to explore how each play works.