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Discover the kinds of plays performed at Stratford in Shakespeare's youth along with an introduction to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Shakespeare's London Years 1591-1613: Our British presenter, Rebecca Flynn, offers us a horseback journey into London and a walking tour over a dozen London sites that conjure up the presence of William Shakespeare during his London years. This program follows the trail and visits eighteen major sites associated with Shakespeare and his plays which include - the Tower of London; St. Paul's Cathedral; the Middle Temple for law students; George Tavern, a venue for outdoor plays; Southwark Cathedral, where his brother Edmund Shakespeare is buried; and the London Globe Theatre site. Shakespeare's Stratford Years 1564-1590: This Program conjures up the presence of William Shakespeare during his Stratford years by taking you on a walking, biking, and rowing journey around Warwickshire. It features the baptismal font and tomb at Trinity church, Shakespeare's Birthplace, the King Edward VI Grammar School he attended, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Shottery, Wilmcote, Kenilworth Castle, the Mary Arden Farm, and many other important locations.
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Episodes
1 to 3 of 5
1. In The Steps William Shakespeare
15m
Discover the kinds of plays performed at Stratford in Shakespeare's youth along with an introduction to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Shakespeare's London Years 1591-1613: Our British presenter, Rebecca Flynn, offers us a horseback journey into London and a walking tour over a dozen London sites that conjure up the presence of William Shakespeare during his London years. This program follows the trail and visits eighteen major sites associated with Shakespeare and his plays which include - the Tower of London; St. Paul's Cathedral; the Middle Temple for law students; George Tavern, a venue for outdoor plays; Southwark Cathedral, where his brother Edmund Shakespeare is buried; and the London Globe Theatre site. Shakespeare's Stratford Years 1564-1590: This Program conjures up the presence of William Shakespeare during his Stratford years by taking you on a walking, biking, and rowing journey around Warwickshire. It features the baptismal font and tomb at Trinity church, Shakespeare's Birthplace, the King Edward VI Grammar School he attended, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Shottery, Wilmcote, Kenilworth Castle, the Mary Arden Farm, and many other important locations.
2. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Restored
11m
Celebrate Shakespeare's work in the original setting and open air acoustics for which he wrote his greatest plays. Witness this historically significant production of Much Ado About Nothing, the first recorded Elizabethan production on the newly rebuilt Globe stage in London. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Restored video documents eighteen months of planning, rehearsal, location work, and post-production by the University of California at Berkeley Shakespeare Program, culminating in the performance of one of Shakespeare's greatest plays. Visit the fully operational restored Globe Theatre on the Bankside of the river Thames, near its original site and experience how the reconstructed Elizabethan Theatre provides a venue for teaching and studying Shakespeare's plays in the ultimate authentic performance setting.
3. Shakespeare and The Spanish Connection
14m
Join the theater department of the University of California at Berkeley on an in-depth journey to the heart of William Shakespeare's plays. Simple but brilliant reenactments of plays from both cultures, featuring beautiful costumes and accessible acting make both worlds interesting and easy to understand despite the barriers of language. Shakespeare and the Spanish Connection is a must for students, teachers, and Shakespeare scholars of all ages. Experience the plays of traditional Spanish theater firsthand and see how they parallel many of Shakespeare's most famous works. See how these plays were brought to early California with the founding of the missions, and how many of these plays are still performed and remain an integral part of Spanish culture in modern-day America. See the archetypal "stock characters" of traditional Spanish theater manifest themselves in Shakespeare's plays… from the black hat villain (Don John in "Much Ado About Nothing") to the nag (Juliet's Nurse in "Romeo and Juliet") to the foolish braggart (Falstaff in "Henry IV," "Henry V" and "The Merry Wives of Windsor"). Watch scenes from these well-known characters alongside the scenes of Spanish theater from which they derive their roots. (N/P) Despite the obvious influence of Spanish theater and culture over many of Shakespeare's works, not one of his plays is actually set in Spain. "Romeo and Juliet" and "Much Ado About Nothing" are both set in Italy, while Falstaff had his adventures in Britain. But nevertheless, throughout all of Shakespeare's plays, the influence of Spanish theater and culture is evident. ABOUT THE HOST: Hugh Macrae Richmond has served as a professor at UC Berkeley since 1968 and Professor Emeritus since 1994. He is also director of the Shakespeare program there and is the author of numerous scholarly works including Shakespeare's Political Plays, 1967, and Shakespeare in Performance: "King Henry VIII", 1994.
4. Macbeth
15m
A literary and dramatic analysis of the key elements in Shakespeare's most famous tragedy. ABOUT THE PROGRAM: This program is an enormously valuable historical, literary and dramatic analysis of the essence of Macbeth showing how the significant parts of the drama tie together with scenes from the play. Our expert hosts Rebecca Flynn and Gary Taylor introduce Macbeth The Tragic Pair using the stunning backdrop of the Scottish Highlands to lift the veil covering the language, plot, themes, geographical and historical background to The Tragedy of Macbeth, first published in 1623. ABOUT THE PLAY: Macbeth is the shortest and most compressed in language, action and character development of the Shakespeare tragedies. At a heath near Forres, three Weird Sisters ("witches") meet with the King of Scotland (Duncan) and his General Macbeth, hailing Macbeth with a triple prophecy that ends with a promise that Macbeth with be king. After events occur supporting these prophecies, the ambitious Macbeth and Lady Macbeth work together to murder the King in their castle (Inverness). In time, the Tragic Pair are haunted by guilt, paranoia and isolation with Lady Macbeth taking her own life and Macbeth fighting to the last, even though he realizes the three witches had issued false and misleading prophecies. Both die and Scotland returns to normalcy with Duncan's son, Malcolm crowned at Scone, Scotland. ABOUT THE HOST: Rebecca Flynn, BA MA Oxford, has conducted numerous educational workshops at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-Upon-Avon and is former deputy Director of Education at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Gary Taylor, Florida State University, George Matthew Edgar Professor, Ph.D., Cambridge, is (co-editor of the Oxford University Press 1986, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare). Includes Bonus Interview with Gary Taylor: Taylor discusses general topics including the Soliloguy, general text challenges, the authenticity issue and his discovery of a Shakespeare poem in 1986, Shall I Die, Shall I Fly.
5. Romeo & Juliet
14m
Romeo & Juliet - The Tragic Lovers, offers insight, commentary and staged performances of Shakespeare's famous tragedy of star-crossed lovers. As a companion to the literary interpretation, actual dramatic scenes filmed in Verona, Italy are used as Shakespeare had intended in his original play. Scholar and host, James Bride, introduces factual information about Shakespeare's play by referencing a digitally enhanced version of the Prologue. Gary Taylor, Editor of the Oxford Editions of Shakespeare's Complete Works, offers an engaging dialogue about the historical background of exotic Verona, use of boy actors, staging challenges and 16th Century sacred and secular attitudes that influenced the writing of the play. Additionally, Judith Annozine covers the humor in this play providing insight into the characters and role of the Nurse and Mercutio in advancing the action. ABOUT THE PLAY: Romeo & Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare about two teenage 'star-crossed' lovers whose untimely deaths reunite their feuding families. An emotional powerhouse, this adaptation of the original story for the stage transports the audience to another time and place, 16th Century Verona, using Shakespeare's text and Elizabethan costumes and staging to enhance the drama. The civil strife between the Montague and Capulet houses provide the backdrop for the love story and tragic death of Romeo and Juliet, all of which take place within a condensed period in dramatic time of just four and one half days. Shakespeare's command of dramatic structure is evidenced by his juxtaposition of comedy and tragedy to heighten tension and expansion of minor characters – the Nurse, Friar Laurence, Mercutio and Tybalt, as well as sub-plots to embellish the story. The Tragic Lovers is an epic romance of tragic proportions that contains some of the most compelling and romantic verse ever written set against the erupting violence of feuding families and civil unrest. STUDENT & TEACHER BENEFITS: Dramatic performances are shot in Verona, Italy where the original play takes place using talented Shakespearean actors to portray these important roles. Relevant performance scenes highlight commentary for all Five Acts. The actors articulate words and thoughts clearly making the 16th century language easier to understand. Performance with an additional musical score enhances the varied scene moods. Assigned written exercises will significantly improve as students understand the characters, events, language commentaries and performance. ABOUT THE PRESENTERS: James H. Bride, Host, has produced and directed educational programs for the Apple Learning Series, Films Media Group, Columbia University Press, Thomson Learning and TMW Media Group. The Tragic Pair, The Tragic Lovers and In the Steps of Shakespeare, London & Stratford were produced exclusively for the TMW Media Group. Gary Taylor, Commentator, Florida State University, George Matthew Edgar Professor, Ph.D., Cambridge, is co-editor of the Oxford University Press 1986 and 2005, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Judith Annozine, Commentator, is a graduate of Columbia University, former lecturer at Rutgers University and gifted actor. Her interpretations and explanations are important to understanding Shakespeare's humor and general information in the play. Includes Bonus Interview with Gary Taylor: Taylor discusses general topics including the Soliloguy, general text challenges, the authenticity issue and his discovery of a Shakespeare poem in 1986, Shall I Die, Shall I Fly.
Extended Details
- SeriesShakespeare
- Closed CaptionsEnglish