Project by Claire Martin
Interviewed by Kelsie Blocker
On November 24, Claire Martin, a friend of our program, orchestrated a reading of the Henriad plays. Here are some words from her about the experience:
“It was great to hear some very famous lines and speeches spoken in the context of the greater narrative of Shakespeare’s second tetralogy. But the best part of today lay in the ensuing discussion we shared about producing and performing Shakespeare in the 21st century. These are loaded texts, rife with problems of sexism, racism, xenophobia, etc. To work on them in this day and age requires intense dramaturgical interrogation as well as inclusivity, equity, and diversity in the rehearsal room. The actors who participated today blew me out of the water with their brilliance and insight. It was a really empowering day.”
