A SERIES of free online workshops will give New England North West Year 11 and 12 students, and their university counterparts, the chance to pick up Shakespearean performance techniques, historical context and language tips, and participants are encouraged to sign up fast.
Actor, facilitator and University of New England Theatre Studies graduate Alex Robson of Inverell is the force behind this skill-sharing program, which was made possible by a micro grant from Arts North West. The focus will be William Shakespeare’s enduring romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet.
Three Sydney-based actors will assist in the delivery of this unique learning opportunity for aspiring performing artists, which will culminate in a rehearsed reading of the play on the Zoom online chat service.
“Parts of the workshops will be recorded and made available to the public,” Alex told Arts North West. “It is also hoped that these workshops will lead to a season of live performances – featuring some of the workshop participants – across the region once the lockdown has ended.”
An actor, director and writer, Alex won an international scholarship to study the works of Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He subsequently devised two plays about the Bard and his work: A Short Guide to Shakespeare and Shakespeare's Villains: Everyone But Iago, the former appearing in the 2014 Sydney Fringe then touring the state.
After recently winning another scholarship to study at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, he was forced to change tack when COVID-19 ruined his plans.
Actors Jade Fuda, Reilly O’Byrne-Inglis and Nicholas Foustellis round out the wealth of experience of offer for online workshop participants in this unique learning experience.
Places are limited and students wishing to participate will need to complete and return an expression of interest form by 5pm Monday June 22, 2020. A media release form is also required (signed by a parent or guardian for underage participants) for all those signing up, and all four workshops must be attended.
For more information, see The Two Sticks website (https://twostickstheatre.wordpress.com/) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TwoSticksTheatre/), or email alexkendallrobson@gmail.com.