The works of William Shakespeare have always graced our stages with bold interpretations that are as relevant today as when they were first written. Why is his work so enduring and how can we use it to learn about our world today? We’ve gathered theatre makers and academics to answer these questions and more in our first Shakespeare Festival. Open to all, you can join us for masterclasses, workshops, study days and opportunities to share in discovering more about The Brilliant Bard.
Programme
Saturday 2 March
Speaking Shakespeare
Debunk the language of the bard in this practical two hour workshop led by our Associate Director Nick Bagnall and Learning Manager Allan Williams. Whether you’re an actor or an enthusiast, this is a fantastic opportunity to get to grips with the language of Shakespeare and how his words are brought to life on stage.
When? Saturday 2 March, 10.15am to 12pm
Where? Everyman EV1 studio
Who for? Age 16+
How much? £8 each
Book now
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Monday 4 March
The Magic of Storytelling: Macbeth (for schools)
Explore the world of the play and its characters in this practical drama workshop. Through lords and ladies, warriors and witches, children will help our theatre practitioners tell the story of murder, mystery and magic on stage.
When? Monday 4 March, 10.15am to 11.30am
Where? Everyman auditorium
Who for? KS2 and above
How much? £4 per child, teachers attend for free
Book now
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Process Drama: Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Discover exciting ways to introduce primary school children to Shakespeare’s plays in this CPD session for teachers and those involved in facilitating children’s learning. Rather than starting with the text, we’ll look at various strategies – including process drama – that will help your students understand the context, themes and value of the plays.
When? Monday 4 March, 1pm to 4pm
Where? Everyman auditorium
Who for? Primary school teachers or practitioners working with KS1 & KS2
How much? £40 per participant, with 20% discount for additional participants
*Partner schools receive one free place, with 50% discount for additional participants
Book now
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Tuesday 5 March
Shakespeare & Film
In a series of illustrated talks, leading Shakespeare experts will discuss the meaning of four key plays and how they have been adapted for film. What can we learn about different plays through their interpretation by various filmmakers? There will be four sessions through the day covering The Merchant of Venice (Simon Wortham, Kingston University), The Tempest (Richard Wilson, Kingston University), Othello (Anne Sophie Refskou, The University of Surrey) & Much Ado About Nothing (Matthew Pateman, Edge Hill University). There will also be a screening of Carl Hunter and Frank Cottrell Boyce’s Liverpool-set short film A Winter’s Tale (Hurricane Films, 2016) followed by a discussion with the director and Martin McQuillan (Edge Hill University).
When? Tuesday 5 March, 10am to 5pm
Where? Everyman auditorium
Who for? Open to all (of interest to GCSE and A Level students)
How much?
You can book into sessions individually for £10 each. If you want to attend the whole day, you can save £5 and enjoy a free lunch on us from the Street Café.
Book now (Whole day, the discount will be applied when you add all four parts to your basket, total cost £35)
or
Book now (Part one, 10.15am The Merchant of Venice)
Book now (Part two, 11.30am The Tempest)
Book now (Part three, 2pm Othello)
Book now (Part four, 3.15pm Much Ado About Nothing)
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Thursday 7 March
The Philosopher’s Hamlet
Liverpool-trained auteur Ken McMullen will explore the meaning, complexity and enduring appeal of Hamlet throughout the ages, from Coleridge to Cavafy, Marx to Freud… Presenting new work from his on-going feature film The Philosopher's Hamlet, Ken will discuss a range of critical and creative responses to Hamlet in literature, art, philosophy and psychoanalysis. There will also be contributions from the renowned Shakespeare scholar Richard Wilson and the cultural critic Martin McQuillan.
When? Thursday 7 March, 2pm to 5.30pm
Where? Everyman auditorium
Who for? Everyone
How much? £15 each including tea and cake
Book now
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Sonnets in the Street Café
Enjoy various readings in the Street Café over lunch.
When? Thursday 7 March, 12pm to 2pm
Where? Everyman Street Café
Who for? Open to all
How much? Free
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The Ghost of an Actor Past
We’ve pulled our Associate Director Nick Bagnall out of acting retirement and are giving you the chance to see him transform into the Prince of Denmark. Our Artistic Director Gemma Bodinetz will direct Nick as he treads the boards for the first time in 10 years.
Let us take you into the world of literature’s best loved tragic hero and see how a classic such as this comes together for the stage.
Gemma and Nick last worked together on Hamlet in 1999, twenty years on, are they any the wiser?
When? Thursday 7 March, 6pm to 7.30pm
Where? Everyman auditorium
Who for? Everyone
How much? £10, £5 for YEP Members
Book now
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Shakespeare Quiz
Test your Billy Shakespeare knowledge, as Gary Lunt (of Film Book Club fame) presents a Shakespeare themed quiz. Including Gary’s world famous film round with all your favourite Shakespeare film clips.
When? Thursday 7 March, 7.30pm
Where? Everyman Bistro
Who for? Everyone
How much? £1 (on the door)
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Friday 8 March
Here is My Space
An academic symposium curated by Esme Miskimmin from the University of Liverpool. There will be a keynote speech by Elspeth Graham, the leading academic for Shakespeare North and an introductory speech by Ian Tabbron of the Arts Council and Chief Executive of Shakespeare North. There will be four sessions through the day including Shakespeare's London and Stage, A Lightning Tour of some Locations in Shakespeare's Plays, Imagined and Re-imagined Worlds in Shakespeare and a Keynote Address by Elspeth Graham (Liverpool John Moores University & Shakespeare North), with Ian Tabbron (Shakespeare North): Time, Space and Knowsley’s Elizabethan Theatre.
When? Friday 8 March, 10am to 5pm
Where? Everyman auditorium
Who for? Open to all (of interest to Higher Education students)
How much?
You can book into sessions individually for £10 each. If you want to attend the whole day, you can save £5 and enjoy a free lunch on us from the Street Café.
Book now (Whole day, the discount will be applied when you add all four parts to your basket, total cost £35)
or
Book now (Part one, 10.30am Real Spaces: Shakespeare's London and Stage)
Book now (Part two, 11.50am Performed Spaces 1: A Lightning Tour of some Locations in Shakespeare's Plays)
Book now (Part three, 2pm Performed Spaces 2: Imagined and Re-imagined Worlds in Shakespeare)
Book now (Part four, 3.20pm Keynote Address: Time, Space and Knowsley’s Elizabethan Theatre)
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Sonnets in the Street Café
Enjoy various readings in the Street Café over lunch.
When? Friday 8 March, 12pm to 2pm
Where? Everyman Street Café
Who for? Open to all
How much? Free
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Saturday 9 March
The Magic of Storytelling: Macbeth (for families)
Explore the world of the play and its characters in this practical drama workshop. Through lords and ladies, warriors and witches, children will help our theatre practitioners tell the story of murder, mystery and magic on stage.
When? Saturday 9 March, 11am to 12.15pm
Where? Everyman auditorium
Who for? Age 5+
How much? £5 each, adults will get a free tea or coffee
Book now