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Ruaridh or Roderick's avatar

Yet, as I think I have mentioned to you already, in reference to the ongoing curriculum review, I recall a spokesperson for The Association for the Teaching of English suggested that an apparently proposed inclusion of a requirement to teach Shakespeare smacked of an undue reliance on historical rather than current day English. What nonsense!

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J.M.Venning's avatar

Frances McDormand as Lady MacBeth in her husband's fairly recent film, with sparse sets; is riveting im her performance and in terms of atmosphere. At Uni I used to read thecplaysxIbstudied oit loud going over each about five times and thinking on meanings, history, politics. I still believe Ophelia a wronged character ... in most portrayals...I think she was not at all.mad, but grief stricken and did not suicide.

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Hilary Taylor's avatar

Absolutely right. .. Olivier in Richard 111 as they marched us around the road to the local to see it stayed with me. Roger Robinson reading Macbeth at Vic in his Yorkshire accent too. You need to be impressed.

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Hilary Taylor's avatar

...Dylan Thomas reading Under Milk Wood on vinyl in 5th form Eng...

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A Halfling’s View's avatar

Nothing like a reading by the author but Richard Burton nails it

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Hilary Taylor's avatar

Well now...perhaps it was Burton...

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Rex's avatar

Totally agree that Shakespeare is meant to be played. I took my children to the Auckland Globe and they loved it. The groundling area was full of school children, many Maori. Unfortunately the conditions were as in Shakespeare’s time and a few fainted in heat 😟

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