The Department of Dramatic Arts has seats open in DRAM 4135W: Experimenting with Shakespeare
Tues./Thurs. 2:00-3:15
Instructor: Dr. Jungmin Song
This course aims to explore and contextualize out-of-the-box thinking in contemporary theatre and performance practice based on Shakespeare’s plays and inspire students to be imaginative and bold in their approach to classical texts.
Plays by William Shakespeare have been performed over 400 years. On one hand, there are strict protocols and expectations that they have to be performed certain ways. On the other, his plays get creative juice flowing and are re-imagined to speak to contemporary audience and respond to diverse social and cultural environments.
We will explore theatrical responses to Shakespeare from Edward Gordon Craig, Peter Brook, Heiner Müller, Robert Wilson, the Wooster Group, Puchdrunk, Forced Entertainment, and others. We will see how productions which were controversial in their time have become canonical and how once-innovative practices become common.
There will be opportunities for students to apply their disciplines in assessments. For example, playwrights might write an adaptation of a Shakespeare play, performers might devise a short performance, and designers might draw up design ideas, in addition to writing essays.
For more information, contact: Jungmin Song at jung.song@uconn.edu