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The Shakespeare Society Club for Teens

In this ongoing drop-in club, we discuss all things Shakespeare: writing, production, historical context, and even a few mysteries! Participants vote on the topic at each meeting, then we discuss and research for the rest of the hour.
Jessie McKeon
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(55)
Class

What's included

1 live meeting
1 in-class hours per week

Class Experience

"O gentlemen, the time of life is short! To spend that shortness basely were too long, if life did ride upon a dial's point, still ending at the arrival of an hour..."(Henry IV, Part 1, V.iii)

But an hour we do have! Whether you are brand new to the bard or you have years and years of experience, enjoy a casual discussion club around all things Shakespeare (and sometimes his peers)!

EACH CLASS IS DIFFERENT AND LEARNER-LED: After reviewing the class covenant in addition to Outschool's Learner Code of Conduct, Shakespeare lovers will choose a topic or volunteer discussion ideas each week. Some kickstart topics from the teacher include:
-Hamlet's madness: real or fake?
-Who is your favorite Shakespeare character and why?
-Richard III: was he really all that "bad"?
-What is the "curse" of Macbeth? 
-What is your favorite line about [war, love, reading, friendship, etc.]?
-Staging tricks of the Globe in Shakespeare's day
-In which era would YOU set "Romeo and Juliet"? Why?
-All the shipwrecks and where they happened
-How old are the characters, really?
-Designing for [play] - costumes, set, lights, and sound

Once we choose our topic, students will be encouraged to discuss and to expand on the topic. Learners will be encouraged to do independent research during the class as we deep dive! General resources and access to electronic versions of all scripts will be made available to learners. This is a collaborative experience between peers, and isn't that what theatre is all about?

Differences in interpretation of plays and different ideas for settings, staging, and characters are what makes the club fun! The teacher will monitor discussion closely to maintain fair "air time" for each learner to express their ideas. In addition, we follow Outschool's Community Standards how we treat each other during class: we will be kind, be safe, and be respectful.

Club Covenant:
-We welcome and affirm learners of all abilities and all walks of life.
-We understand that our differences in opinion and learning style can lead to more dynamic learning.
-We will not tolerate hate speech, bullying, and other negative behavior toward each other.
-We will follow the classroom guidelines for Outschool that are there to keep us safe and geared toward learning.
-We will manage risk so that our club can be fun and fascinating!
Learning Goals
Students will learn script analysis, critical reading and thinking skills, as well as collaborative planning and research
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
This class is for teens only - some of the material can be considered PG-13 due to the sense of humor and ignorance of medicine at the time these plays were written. Additionally, many of Shakespeare's shows contain racist, sexist, antisemitic, ableist, and xenophobic characters and overtones, whether by design or by the playwright's own cultural ignorance. We will not gloss over these topics; rather, we will examine them in the context of the time period as well as our current cultural context(s).
Supply List
Learners may want copies of scripts (if they have them) and a notebook/paper and pen. This is a casual discussion group; however, sometimes really great ideas come up! External resources are also provided for learners to bookmark for easy reference.
Language of Instruction
English
Joined September, 2019
4.9
55reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
I hold a BA in Performing and Visual Arts with a focus in Early British Drama and Shakespeare and have won several awards for my work in this field. I have spent over 20 years studying and producing the works of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. I am also a trained gender and sexuality educator, certified facilitator, and active in the Pledge to End Racism and will have access to voices other than my own to educate around sensitive topics.
In my classes we use video, audio, and unconventional tools to learn the topic together. I design all of my instruction around first creating a safe space.

Reviews

Live Group Class
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$12

weekly
1x per week
60 min

Completed by 9 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-10 learners per class

This class is no longer offered
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