WORKSHOPS

W01. The Distributed Performance of ‘Character” in Antony and Cleopatra 

Organisers: David Schalkwyk, Elena Pellone

Description: In Shakespeare and Character Paul Yachnin and Jessica Slights declare that ‘character is … the organizing formal feature of Shakespearean drama’. Since Aristotle’s elevation of action above character in Greek theatre, through the eighteenth-century conception of character as a three-dimensional, unified expression of a single subjectivity, followed by the New Critical denigration of character in favour of theme, form and literary language and the Materialist and Poststructuralist denial of a unified, humanist subject, character in Shakespeare has become a contested concept. This workshop will investigate a different notion of character through performance: exploring Cleopatra’s ‘infinite variety’ by dividing the character among at least three different actors, each speaking a different language, each bringing out different aspects of the linguistic and gestural indications provided in the speeches prefixed by the name ‘Cleopatra’. (The same experiment might be conducted with multiple embodiments of Antony, Octavian and Enobarbus.) Participants should be prepared to participate in the performances and bring a copy of the play in a language of their choice that is not English.

W02. Found in Translation: Elevating the Global Accessibility of Shakespeare in Research and Practice

Organisers: Lue Douthit, Jonathan Hope, CJ Ochoco, Ben Spiller

Description: Since the  creation of language, the practice of translation has allowed cultures to communicate across geographic and cultural borders. The first step to making Shakespeare’s works globally accessible was translation—and his works have been translated into over 100 languages. Through translation, archaic language can be modernized, metaphors can be rewritten for cross-cultural understanding, and stories can be shared worldwide. However, Shakespeare’s 1600s English is still inaccessible to many modern English speakers. How might we grant the same access to English speakers in the 21st century that we offer to other languages? Our proposed session is an interactive workshop led by Dr. Lue Douthit, Co-Founder and President of Play On Shakespeare, featuring a few of Play On Shakespeare’s international partners: CJ Ochoco, President of Breaking Wave Theatre Company in Guam; Dr. Jonathan Hope, linguist and Professor of English at Arizona State University, U.S.; and Ben Spiller, Co-Director of the United Kingdom’s 1623 Theatre Company. Our four participants will host an interactive workshop, beginning with a demonstration of the Play On Shakespeare translations read side-by-side with Shakespeare’s original works, highlighting the subtle changes our playwrights made to make his works accessible to new audiences. We will include excerpts from three translations: Hansol Jung’s Romeo and Juliet, Marcus Gardley’s King Lear, and Migdalia Cruz’s Macbeth. After the audience has experienced translation examples together, we will invite them to create their own translation of one of Shakespeare’s famous prologues. Dividing audiences into small groups, each participant will receive a workbook page and be assigned a few lines from the prologue to translate. Following this exercise, we will ask each group to present their translations aloud. Finally, the workshop will conclude with a robust discussion about the process. In past post-workshop discussions, conversations have sparked about who has previously heralded Shakespeare’s work, the benefits of putting Shakespeare’s work into the hands of marginalized storytellers, and new ways to invigorate audiences’ interest and investment in his timeless stories. We are now ready to bring this conversation to a global audience. Play On Shakespeare has been translating, producing, and teaching Shakespeare through modern verse English translations for over a decade. With the goal of eliminating language barriers to Shakespeare’s work and bringing accessibility to the forefront of our mission, Play On Shakespeare hopes to expand our global understanding of Shakespeare by creating translations that coexist with and supplement his original works. This workshop aims to revitalize Shakespeare for new audiences, introduce accessible Shakespeare for pedagogy and productions, and reaffirm that Shakespeare’s work is for everyone—rather than guarded by those privileged to study it. Through this workshop, participants will explore the language of these classic stories about humanity, finding creativity through the art of storytelling and translation. Finally, this workshop reconfigures Shakespeare’s stories as global stories, uninhibited by borders, with great opportunities for transcontinental art.

W03. Shakespeare and Early Modern Theatre Wikipedia Editing Workshop 

Organisers: Kitamura Sae (Musashi University), Marta Erica Arosio (Wikimedia Italia), Andrew Lih, Sitti Asmah Federico (Wikimedia Eesti)  

Description: This workshop has three primary goals: offer researchers an understanding of Wikipedia, especially Wikipedia articles about Shakespeare; discuss how Wikipedia could be utilised in educational contexts; and teach participants how to edit Wikipedia articles related to their research appropriately. Mostly edited and administered by volunteers with no pay, Wikipedia is a significant social infrastructure for information. Although it has become the first step towards knowledge for various types of users, Wikipedia has not been very well regarded in academia. It is accused of providing incorrect information, and teachers often discourage students from using it in the classroom. Apart from those in library and information science, few researchers are actively involved in Wikipedia, although their knowledge is in high demand. Contributing to Wikipedia is an easy way to disseminate accurate information and stimulate the general public’s interest in academic research, but early modernists have not paid much attention to it. This workshop tries to improve this situation by encouraging Shakespeareans to become actively involved in Wikipedia and its related project, Wikimedia Commons. However, there are several obstacles for researchers who wish to engage in Wikipedia. This workshop addresses the following three problems: 

1.  The bureaucratic nature of Wikipedia. Wikipedia, despite being edited and administered by the coordinated efforts of a global community of volunteers, has many regulations, and when editors do not follow them, their edits are deleted. This sets a high bar for new editors. This workshop, organised by two experienced Wikipedians, will help researchers to familiarise themselves with Wikipedia’s basic rules. 
2. The lack of appreciation. Editing Wikipedia brings neither money nor honour in academia. It is time consuming and can be costly because editors sometimes have to gather a significant amount of information, and most researchers are simply too busy. This workshop argues that academia should take Wikipedia more seriously, such as by creating Wikipedia-related classes with university credits, hiring Wikimedians in residence (Wikimedians working for cultural institutions), and regarding contributions to Wikipedia as part of researchers’ outreach activities. Because one of the organisers has taught a Wikipedia-related university course, and both organisers have served as Wikimedians in residence, several examples will be discussed. 
3. The suspicion of poor quality. The quality of Wikipedia articles has been questioned, which has led researchers to form biased opinions. Wikipedia, however, is a project everyone can contribute to. If researchers themselves were encouraged to contribute, edit, and verify the information published on Wikipedia, the possibility of a more accurate, concise and easily accessible online encyclopaedia in Wikipedia would be more feasible.  

The first part of the workshop is an introduction to Wikipedia, including an explanation of its basic rules, an analysis of the current status of Wikipedia articles related to Shakespeare and early modern theatre and a discussion of their use in educational contexts. This is followed by a question-and-answer session. The second part is an editathon, or Wikipedia editing event, during which the participants will edit Wikipedia articles about early modern English theatre under the organisers’ guidance. In this workshop, participants will learn about Wikipedia and edit Wikipedia articles related to Shakespeare and early modern theatre. This workshop has three primary goals: offer researchers an understanding of Wikipedia, especially Wikipedia articles about Shakespeare; discuss how Wikipedia could be utilised in educational contexts; and teach participants how to edit Wikipedia articles related to their research appropriately. The first part is an introduction to Wikipedia, followed by a question-and-answer session. The second part is an editathon, or Wikipedia editing event, during which the participants will edit Wikipedia articles about early modern English theatre under the organisers’ guidance. 

W04. Shakespeare in Veneto: unveiling historical heritage and culture acting Shakespeare works

Organisers: Ornella Naccari and Joseph Falocco 

Description: Since 2015, the project “Shakespeare in Veneto” has created immersive experiences by staging Shakespearean plays in the Italian locations where they are set. Audiences are thus able to connect with the history and heritage of these iconic locations through live performances. Starting 2020, in “Shakespearean promenades” of Venice, Verona, and Padua, participants see site-specific performances of scenes from Othello, The Moor of Venice, The Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew performed by professional actors from the region. In Venice for instance, participants follow Shylock through the Ghetto and observe Iago as he plots revenge along the Grand Canal. In Verona, they observe the courtship of Romeo and Juliet on a sixteenth-century balcony and watch the couple say farewell on the banks of the Adige. The participants are lead through the hearts of the cities where these legendary stories are set. These walks offer participants a unique way to explore the cities and culture associated with Shakespeare’s works. Looking ahead, the project has evolved and in 2024 a new and exciting “educational experience” has been introduced with “Walking with The Taming of the Shrew” in Padua, and in Venice “Walking with Shylock” of the Merchant of Venice and “Walking with Othello, the Moor of Venice” dedicated only to the high school and Universities students. These educational walking lectures offer students the opportunity to participate as actors, performing scenes from the plays in question under the guidance of a professional director. This participatory approach combines with site-specific history provided by a history expert guide offering a chance to deepen understanding of Shakespeare’s works while also exploring the cultural heritage of Padua, Venice and Verona. In June 2024, for instance, students in an English class from Texas State University performed scenes from The Taming of the Shrew at various sites in Padua for an audience composed of fellow students from other disciplines. Both performers and audience had little previous knowledge of Shakespeare, and all came away from this project enthusiastic about future study. For the first thirty minutes of this workshop, the historian and art expert will describe “Shakespeare in Veneto” project, sharing photographs and videos of the company’s endeavors. Then, the workshop organizers will lead participants to a relevant location within walking distance of the Conference site, describing its historical background. After this presentation, volunteers among the workshop participants will be offered the opportunity to perform (script in hand) the different roles of the acted Shakespeare play. Upon returning to the Conference site, participants will discuss what they have seen and consider how it might impact their own knowing of Shakespeare’s Italian plays. They will also be able to share and critique ideas for developing site-specific Shakespeare performances in or their own community. This workshop will examine how Shakespeare’s works can be used to reveal cultural and historical heritage through immersive performances in historically significant sites. It will explore how blending theatrical art with cultural activities can enhance understanding of both Shakespeare’s plays and their settings. Participants will explore the potential of interactive, performance-based learning, especially for students, while addressing key challenges such as the need for multilingual performances and managing audience expectations. The discussion will provide insights into how these elements can be effectively balanced for successful implementation and enriched educational experiences.