We bring live Shakespeare performances to the schools, and in a unique way. We create short, 20-minute, versions of the iconic plays by concentrating on two or three characters and combining their scenes into an abridged narrative, like a one-act. We offer the teachers a selection of ten plays to choose from, and none of the language is altered- students will be hearing only the original Elizabethan dialogue.
In the weeks leading to our visit, teachers will receive study guides about their selected play, and script pages if they have any students who want the exciting opportunity to participate in a scene with our professional actors. Before the show, there will be a brief presentation setting up the play- since they are abridged versions, we make sure that everyone is up to speed on the context of the piece. Following the performance is a Q&A with the students, where we ask students their thoughts about the piece and give them the opportunity to ask our actors questions. Part of our Q&A includes helping students dissect the language of the play, allowing for more thorough understanding of the performance.
Students who have attended our performances come out with a newfound appreciation and understanding for the work, artistry, and performances of Shakespeare; when you invite Carolina Shakespeare to perform at your school, you won’t be disappointed! Our team will include 2-3 actors, a presenter, and occasionally an additional staff member (our School Coordinator or Photographer.)
Artist Background
Carolina Shakespeare’s mission is to expand our children’s literacy and social skills through the excitement of live Shakespeare in performance and with the unparalleled beauty of its language, which is found nowhere else in the world. We aim to offer a counterpoint to the encroaching digitization of our world by providing access to one of the greatest bodies of literature ever written.
Carolina Shakespeare is the brainchild of Artistic Director Dan Decker, who originally created the program while living in Nevada. Dan was formerly the Producing Artistic Director of the Las Vegas Shakespeare Company, a highly successful pre-pandemic theatre company where he created various Shakespeare in the Parks and Schools programs. Upon moving to Raleigh, Dan wanted to bring his Shakespeare school program to North Carolina students. He has published an essay on the life of Shakespeare entitled “The Two Roses” in The New England Theatre Journal, a peer-reviewed publication, and landed a second essay in another peer-reviewed journal, Renaissance Papers 2024, entitled “Adapting Shakespeare for Young People.”
Our troupe of actors comes from all walks of life, but one thing brings them all together: Shakespeare. From recent college graduates with degrees in performance, to blue-collar workers with a passion for acting, our troupe is diverse, talented, and ready to bring high level performances to North Carolina schools.
Search Criteria
- Program Type: Performance
- Discipline: Theatre
- Grade Level: High, Middle
- Accepts bookings in Johnston County
