Shakespeare: Context and Stagecraft
Explore Shakespeare’s stagecraft through three of his most well-known plays: Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice and Macbeth.
Who is the course for?
This course is primarily designed for those studying or teaching Shakespeare as part of the school curriculum.
The course is also suitable for anyone new to Shakespeare, as well as those looking to refresh their knowledge.
What topics will you cover?
Shakespeare’s stagecraft
Early modern performance conditions and Shakespeare’s plays
Language and how it creates meaning
Historical and literary context of the plays
The afterlives of Shakespeare’s plays
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to…
Explore the language and themes of Shakespeare’s plays
Identify early modern performance practices and how they contributed to Shakespeare’s stagecraft
Explain the plays’ social and historical context
Compare different performance choices
