Looking for William: Aspects of William Shakespeare
Saturday 15 June
Boxgrove Village Hall, PO18 OEE
Shakespeare Day Programme
10:00: Simon Brett – Introduction and welcome.
10:15: Dr Duncan Salkeld – Shakespeare’s World: playhouses, actors and rivals.
11:15: Break
11:35: Bridget Escolme – The Shakespeare, Costume and Fashion.
12:35: Break
12:45: Dr Duncan Salkeld – Arden of Faversham: a new (old) play by Shakespeare?
13:15: Lunch
14:15: Simon Brett – Chopped Hamlet
14:45: Ellen Cheshire – Shakespeare on Film
15:45: Closing summary
16:00: Close
Your host for the day is the Chichester Literary Society’s patron, the
author, Simon Brett, who has promised to entertain with his very own
parody on William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Simon will read from his
version of the play, entitled Chopped Hamlet, containing the immortal
lines:
‘Prince Hamlet thought Uncle a traitor
For having it off with his Mater,
Revenge Dad or not?
That’s the gist of the plot,
And he did – nine soliloquies later.’
So, please join us in what we are sure will be, a fascinating and
entertaining look at the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare.
‘Looking for William:
Chichester Literary Society are pleased to announce details of their
special one-day event, Looking for William: Aspects of William
Shakespeare on Saturday 15 June; a part of the Festival of Chichester 2024. Tickets include a picnic lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
Held in Boxgrove Village Hall, the programme will include two talks by
Professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature, Duncan Salkeld
Duncan’s two talks will be Shakespeare’s World: playhouses, actors and rivals, where Duncan will shed new light on significant locations for Shakespeare’s work, the people with whom he associated and the
cultural diversity of early modern London. His second talk will explore
Arden of Faversham: a new (old) play by Shakespeare? Is this a play by
William Shakespeare; one of the earliest domestic tragedies. A powerful drama based on the real-life murder of Thomas Arden. The play’s authorship continues to be the subject of substantial disagreement. Possible candidates have included Thomas Kyd, Christopher Marlowe, Martin Wiggins and of course, William Shakespeare. You are invited to decide.
We will also welcome Professor Bridget Escolme, Professor of Theatre and Performance at Queen Mary University of London, where she teaches and researches Shakespeare and his contemporaries in performance, histories of fashion and costume. Bridget will discuss what Shakespeare has to say about clothing and fashion, and how developments in fashion and theatre costume, change how audiences understand the plays? Drawing on Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing and The Tempest, exploring the clothing of Shakespeare’s time and how it made meaning on the Globe and Blackfriars’ stages, with their all-male companies; the development of set and costume design on the late nineteenth and twentieth century stages and the first ‘modern dress’ Shakespeare plays.
Our audience will also be invited to embark on a global odyssey with film writer and lecturer, Ellen Cheshire, as she delves into the realm of
cinematic adaptations of Shakespeare’s timeless plays. In an insightful
exploration, Ellen will curate an intriguing selection of film clips, unveiling some of the most unusual and acclaimed interpretations of
Shakespeare’s works from around the world. From cherished classics to contemporary re-imaginings, the audience will be treated to a diverse array of cinematic adaptations, each offering a distinct perspective on Shakespeare’s enduring narratives. Join Ellen as she illuminates how the Bard’s genius has resonated across cultures and through the ages, captivating audiences worldwide.