Have you ever wondered what it would be like to deliver one of Shakespeare’s greatest soliloquies to a huge, international audience? Or, maybe you’re just as keen as the likes of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare’s Globe to keep the magic of the Bard’s work alive while the theatres are closed. Well now you have your chance and StageAgent is here to help!
Shakespeare’s Globe, along with The Guardian, are inviting keen performers from across the world to film themselves performing one of three selected speeches from As You Like It, Hamlet, and The Tempest. These are all speeches that were previously filmed by actors Adrian Lester, Zawe Ashton, and David Threlfall as part of “Shakespeare Solos”. Selected entries will then be edited together with the professionals and shared across The Globe and The Guardian’s social media channels.
What better way to practice a little Shakespeare while in isolation?! And StageAgent can help you nail that speech. Check out the links below for each speech and make sure you’re up to speed with the context and motivation behind the text. You can also look at video performances of others who have previously performed speeches to help you decide what approach works for you.
The selected speeches are:
- Jacques’ “Seven Ages of Man” speech from As You Like It
- Hamlet’s “To Be Or Not To Be” speech
- Prospero’s “Our Revels Now Are Ended” speech from The Tempest
But you better be quick, entries close on Friday April 17 at 6.59PM EST! #shakespearesolos
Or maybe you’d prefer something a little less restrictive. The Royal Shakespeare Company have launched their #ShareYourShakespeare initiative and are asking fellow admirers of the Bard to send in their videos and photographs of their own creative Shakespeare. You could perform a monologue OR you could film a scene from your favorite play with your friends on Zoom! Or introduce Shakespeare to TikTok?! The RSC will select their favorites for a worldwide collaborative celebration of Shakespeare’s birthday on April 23 so get cracking!
Explore our bio of the playwright to get some inspiration. Or maybe take a quiz or two to test out which play you are most familiar with. And then get creative!
‘Cos who doesn’t love a bit of Shakespeare in isolation?! After all…
“Nothing will come of nothing.” (King Lear)
