Preparing to Perform: Mining Shakespeare’s Text
with Lauren Ash-Morgan and Michael Downey
(Sundays, October 23-November 27. Please note the specific times below.)
INTRODUCTION
Shakespeare's text provides lots of keys and clues to aid the performer in giving his or her best possible performance. In this class, we will discover key ways to bring out the richness of Shakespeare's writing in order to reveal possibilities in interpreting character, communicating clearly to the audience, and getting at the true meaning and intentions of a passage of text. As with all things in acting, the aim is not to find one correct answer, but to find out new, inspiring possibilities for the text.
DESCRIPTION
This 6-week workshop is an in-depth exploration of strategies to maximize the performance potential of Shakespeare’s text. Utilizing principles from Barry Edelstein’s Thinking Shakespeare and exercises from David and Rebecca Clark Carey’s The Shakespeare Workbook and Video: A Practical Course for Actors, this class explores strategies for performing Shakespeare’s text and looks at a variety of monologues, using techniques, including physical exercises, specifically tailored to each monologue to bring out the text’s most salient features, with an eye toward how the exercises can be applied to other texts. The aim of this workshop is for actors to develop an extensive toolkit for approaching Shakespeare’s language, and to open the actors up to new and interesting choices, guided by the language.
THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR:
Actors of all levels who wish to improve their understanding of Shakespeare’s text and performance possibilities. The course is particularly appropriate for more experienced actors, but beginners who are up for a challenge are more than welcome.
WORKSHOP DETAILS:
Dates (all are on Sundays):
October 23, 12-3pm*
October 30, 2-5pm
November 6, 2-5pm
November 13, 2-5pm
November 20, 12-3pm*
November 27, 2-5pm
(6 weeks total. 18 total hours of instruction.)
Class Size: approximately 6-12 participants
Cost: 160,000 KRW
Location: Seoul Improv Theater (near Sookmyung Women’s University Station, Subway Line 4, Exit 9) http://www.seoulcityimprov.com/loacation.html
To Register: Email info@seoulshakespeare.com by October 16 with your name and your phone number. We will respond with bank account details, and your spot will be confirmed once we receive your funds.
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1183443388393713/
INSTRUCTOR INFO:
Lauren Ash-Morgan has a dual background in education and performance and is the Artistic Director of Seoul Shakespeare Company. She has been an actor with the company since early 2011, appearing in Macbeth, Gore and Madness, The Tempest, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Titus Andronicus, Love and Despair, Much Ado About Nothing,The Winter's Tale, and Garage. In addition to SSC, she has performed in Seoul with Probationary Theatre Company at the White Box Theatre, Seoul Players, and Eurasia Shakespeare Theatre Company at the National Theater of Korea. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (Voice) and a Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology, specializing in Korean music and dance, and has taken classes at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. and with Seoul Shakespeare Company’s past teaching artists. Directing experience includes Best Interests by Donna Hoke and the Seoul revival of Michael Downey’s play The Orderly. Since 2014, she has served as Artistic Director and producer of SSC’s productions, while continuing to act and serve as a resource for other actors.
Michael Downey directed SSC’s highly successful productions of Garage, The Winter's Tale and Much Ado About Nothing and will direct SSC’s upcoming production of The Merchant of Venice. Other directing credits include A Circular Play by Gertrude Stein and New Year’s Eve by Dave MacGregor. Michael trained as an actor at The Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts and holds an M.A. in Drama Studies from the University of Auckland. In New Zealand, his theatre credits include Coriolanus, Oedipus the King, and Attempts on Her Life. Onscreen, he has appeared in Power Rangers, Shortland Street, and Xena: Warrior Princess. He co-founded The Rebel Alliance Theatre Company in 2006, their debut production being his solo play The Orderly, which toured New Zealand, had a successful run in South Korea, and was also adapted for radio. In 2007, his play Aroha won the SmackBang PlayRight award and enjoyed a two-week season at the Herald Theatre. Michael has been an influential member of Seoul Shakespeare Company since 2010, performing in Macbeth, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Titus Andronicus, and Love and Despair. He has also performed with Probationary Theatre Company at the White Box Theatre, Seoul Players, Cut Glass Theatre, and Eurasia Shakespeare Theatre Company at the National Theater of Korea.
