The Comedy of Errors

Friday, 27 March 2015

Performance Dates

Brighton - Friday 15th May

School - Thursday 7th May

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Historical Context sessions

WEEK 1 - SETTING THE SCENE – LIFE IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND

The Time Travellers Guide to Elizabethan England is a documentary that first aired on the BBC in 2014. It gives insights into life in Elizabethan England. Below is a link to a series of clips on the BBC website which you should watch to gain an insight into life in this period. As you watch the clips and make notes bear in mind the question below.

QUESTION: What sense do you get of what life was like in Elizabethan England? Try to include information on: The population, entertainment, religion, superstition, money, jobs, medicine, theatre.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036rw5q/clips

WEEK 2 - SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE AND BIOGRAPHY

RESEARCH: Research Shakespeare’s life, ensuring you include information about his origins, family, relationships, the world he lived in and questions surrounding his work.

Visit the Folger Shakespeare Library Website and working from the ‘Discover Shakespeare’ Tab you work through the information regarding Shakespeare’s Life. http://www.folger.edu/Content/Discover-Shakespeare/Shakespeares-Life/

You can also read the ‘William Shakespeare Fact Sheet’ on the Globe website.

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/education/discovery-space/fact-sheets

WEEK 3 - SHAKESPEARE’S LONDON AND ELIZABETHAN AUDIENCES

QUESTION: What was London like in Elizabethan times and who were the people attending the theatre?

You can start by reading the ‘London’ and ‘Audiences’ factsheets on the Globe website.

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/education/discovery-space/fact-sheets

WEEK 4 - THEATRES, ACTORS AND ACTING IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIME

QUESTION: What were the theatres or ‘playhouses’ of Shakespeare’s time like and how were plays staged in them?

QUESTION: Who were the actors of Shakespeare’s plays and how did the experience of being an actor differ from the experience today?

http://www.folger.edu/Content/Discover-Shakespeare/Shakespeares-Theater/

Use the Globe’s fact sheets on Actors and Playhouseshttp://www.shakespearesglobe.com/education/discovery-space/fact-sheets

WEEK 5 - SHAKESPEARE TODAY

QUESTION: Watch clips or fottage of contemporary productions of Shakespeare plays. What do you notice about them and how they differ from what you know about the original performance conditions of Shakespeare’s work? (Don’t be afraid to point out the obvious).

WEEK 6 – YOUR PRODUCTION

RESEARCH: Research Henry V. What is the play about? When was it first performed? Find a contemporary production of the play you can get an idea of and research it in terms of concept, style, design, casting. Give some attention to your own character and their role in the play.

Wednesday, 11 March 2015

TOWIE SLANG

What they say on Towie	What they really mean
Shut up!	I’m struggling to believe what you just said to me because I find it almost incredible.
Shuuuut uuuup!	What you just said simply cannot be true.
Reem	Desirable, cool (coined by Joey Essex)
Alright?	Greetings; how are you this fine day?
Jel	Jealous.
Well jel	Very jealous indeed.
Everyone keeps getting well jel	Everyone is feeling very jealous indeed.
Vajazzle	The highly skilled practice of encrusting diamanté jewels around the female genitalia so as to enhance their appearance. Can be used as both a noun and a verb.
Ag	Aggro; aggravation.
It’s a load of ag I could do without	This situation involves much unwanted aggravation.
Obviously …	I’m bringing new information to the table for the viewer, but as this oxymoronic televisual format is “scripted reality”, I’m opening my sentence with this because you know full well what I’m about to impart.
Hundred 'cent	I wholeheartedly agree with what you just said; indication of the affirmative.
No carbs before Marbs	I’m on a diet free of all carbohydrates so I can look appropriately slender for when the Daily Mail’s side banner is FILLED with pictures of me in my swimsuit on holiday in Marbella.
Noon; my noon	Vagina; my vagina.
What are you sayin’?	A rhetorical question, often posed by Joey Essex, with no clear definition other than: “I’m feeling rather well today, thanks for asking.”
Stop bagging me out	I feel that harsh criticism you just delivered was wholly unjustified - and would prefer it if you avoided such personal vitriol.
Stop mugging me off	You’re taking me for a very gullible person and I’d appreciate it if you reassessed that judgment immediately.
It’s professional	Pretty much any situation that is non work-related. As in: “I’m not being friendly to Lauren no more – when I see her down Faces I’m gonna be purely professional.”
Goin’ Faces?	It’s Saturday night. I’m feeling energetic and inclined to consume several alcoholic beverages, possibly followed by the consumption of meat of questionable source in pitta bread; would you care to join me in this pursuit?
Nanny Pat’s sausage plait	A dish made by everyone’s favourite grandma.
You’re a pair of Capri Suns	More Joey Essex neologism. Apparently it means a pair of silly people. A (very) rough etymology can be found here
A salty potato	Yep, it’s Joey again; this is a metaphor for an attractive woman.
I’ve been feeling lower than a worm’s tit	A wonderful analogy meaning “I’ve been very depressed.”
Well educational	Moderately intellectual.
Well boring me out	A conversation devoid of chutzpah.
Basically…	A meaningless opener, given that it’s often used to introduce quite a convoluted dramatic scenario.
Do one	Please go away, and do it quickly.

Taken from http://www.theguardian.com/media/mind-your-language/2013/aug/02/mind-your-language-nouveau-cockney

5 DAYS 'TIL REHEARSALS START

Shakespeare Land

I've just got back from a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon. I visited the houses that are looked after by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. There are 5 houses that have been preserved over the last 500 years that all have a connection with Shakespeare. The history and stories surrounding the man is quite incredible. I don't know if you'll have time to look around them all when we visit in June, however if you ever up there they are worth a visit.

This photo is of the house that William was born in. He lived here with his family. His father ran his glove making visit from here. Making gloves was a great business, everyone wore gloves as a status sign. They are like today's designer handbags and clothes.

This photo is of Nash's House and New Place. This is currently shut to the public. There is currently a dig happening in the gardens. It is said that Shakespeare wrote most of his plays outside in the gardens. He also lived here later in his life.

Hall's Croft, below, is where Shakespeare's eldest daughter Susanna lived with her husband. He was a doctor.

The photo below is of Anne Hathaway's cottage. This is where Shakespeare's wife grew up with her family. It stayed in the family for many years.

It is said that Shakespeare left his 'second best bed' to his wife in his will. This was seen as a romantic gesture. Beds were status symbols. If you were rich enough to own a bed, your best bed would be for guests and the second best bed was for you. The bed below was moved back to Hathaway's cottage when Anne died. This bed would have originally been Anne's mother's. She would have given it to Anne when she moved in with Shakespeare. It is also said that Shakespeare died in this bed. It took him around 5 days to die, and there is no evidence of what he died of...

Here is the link to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust if you want anymore information:

http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/home.html

Sunday, 8 March 2015

Research

You need to complete some research on the play and your character.

Here are some websites and videos to get you started. Remember - don't post a video or link without making a comment about why you've posted it. Also, remember to reference where you found the research.

Shakespeare...

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/video/shakespeare-at-the-national-theatre

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/

http://www.rsc.org.uk/explore/

In Search of Shakespeare - BBC Documentary: