In August 2018, Founder and Director, Andee Kinzy, of ImprovEd Shakespeare, embarked on a worldwide tour. Global Hamlet is her journey to discover and share techniques for introducing students to Shakespeare. Notably, this ongoing web series unites youth and their teachers, including directors, through Shakespeare.
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HOW GLOBAL HAMLET BEGAN
Ahh, yes. That is the question. Believe me, I’ve had trouble defining it. You know when you get a wild and crazy idea, and you can’t quite explain it in words?
To begin with, our family had a unique opportunity. My husband needed to visit partners and clients for his company, Gluu, Inc. In brief, Gluu provides open source identity and security. However, many of the firm’s clients and partners reside outside of the USA. Ideally, he needed to get in front of them more frequently.
Therefore, we faced a common dilemma for many families: perpetual business travel. So we posed the question, what if our family traveled with him? All the while weighing the advantages and disadvantages, we narrowed our concerns into two camps. First, the pro, traveling is an excellent opportunity for anyone lucky enough to do so. Second, the con, the kids and I had many responsibilities and connections in Austin, Texas, USA.
After much debate, we threw caution to the wind. We decided to join him on his trips. That is to say, the family would travel with him for one full year.
But, this posed a problem. And no, it wasn’t what to pack. More on that in a future blog post. Instead, and most importantly, how could I abandon my Shakespeare Kids?! Ok, ok, I’m sure you have many other questions. After all, this is a gigantic undertaking, and I’m simplifying it. Therefore, feel free to post them in the comments below.
In any case, out of this predicament, the idea of Global Hamlet was born. We were going to put on a worldwide play and share the ImprovEd Shakespeare process.
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PUTTING THE PLAN INTO EFFECT
Once decided, we quickly set plans for the departure into action. Undeniably, this was our goal, but that’s not how it worked out. Indeed, there were many other obligations. Gluu is a nonstop mountain of work for my husband. And my own children were tied up with their numerous activities. Not to mention, I had two spring productions of ImprovEd Shakespeare’s Tempest. This included performances at Sherwood Forest Faire, as well as the Texas Nonprofit Theatre Festival Youth Conference. Moreover, I was organizing the first Girl Improved short Film and Theatre Festival. In the midst of it all, I still had to figure out what to do with the house, our stuff, and also our pets.
In reality, we weren’t actually planning anything. Instead, with much excitement, I began to talk to people about Global Hamlet.
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THOUGH THIS BE MADNESS, YET THERE IS METHOD IN’T
The idea was simple. I would lead ImprovEd Shakespeare workshops at all our business stops. Additionally, the participants would perform the next scene in our worldwide production.
“Yeah, but where are you going to find the Kids?” Inevitably, this was the first question that came up in response to my brilliant idea. To my credit, I ignored any potential difficulties and quipped, “Oh, that’s going to be easy, it’s the least of my worries.”
UPDATE: Finding Kids is the hardest part.
Initially, the plan was to start with my network of friends and connections. Then, branch out by contacting Shakespeare organizations in the destination city, as well as youth theatre organizations. So long as I sent out weekly queries before our departure, I should have Kids in all the locations set before the trip began.
UPDATE: That didn’t happen.
THE GLOBAL HAMLET PROJECT
With this purpose in mind, I began to design corresponding workshops that shared my ImprovEd Shakespeare techniques of introducing Shakespeare to Kids. I also needed to create a script that could be separated into stand-alone scenes.
As a result, every location became one Episode of the Global Hamlet project. Each Episode is divided into three parts that are 2-5-minute-long videos. Enumerated here are the Parts and what to expect:
- A modern narration scene recapping the story thus far;
- The Shakespeare scene;
- A drama game or exercise that can be used as a resource for teachers and directors.
Who did I ask to help me develop this wild idea? Of course my amazing, brilliant, steadfast, curious, adventurous, encouraging ImprovEd Shakespeare family in Austin, Texas, USA!
GLOBAL HAMLET EPISODE 1, PART 1: AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA WITH IMPROVED SHAKESPEARE
And there you have it, the start of something beautiful. Please join us on our incredible journey. Subscribe to our mailing list for regular updates. And don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Firstly, Part 1, the contemporary narration keeps you up-to-date with the ongoing story:
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GLOBAL HAMLET EPISODE 1, PART 2: AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA WITH IMPROVED SHAKESPEARE
In some ways, our introductory workshop was bittersweet. Reason being, I was afraid that things were never going to be the same. Luckily, I was not abandoning the ImprovEd Shakespeare Kids. Instead, our creative and trusted assistant director, Taylor Flanagan, agreed to take on the Austin, Texas performances for a year.
Additionally, they were going to perform the two plays I always refused to produce. Can you guess which ones? Think of the two dramas that are generally associated with youth and Shakespeare. For reasons involving fairies and young characters, people seem to think these two Shakespeare plays appeal to youth the most. They are A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet. And guess which two plays my ImprovEd Shakespeare Kids always requested to perform? You got it. A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet. Thus, net-net, it was going to be a win-win for all of us.
Secondly, Part 2, the original Shakespeare verse:
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GLOBAL HAMLET EPISODE 1, PART 3: AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA WITH IMPROVED SHAKESPEARE
What’s more, I had high hopes that this project would give teachers, including directors, the support they needed when working with Kids and Shakespeare. Chiefly, I never wanted to hear another Kid say, “I hated learning about Shakespeare.” And what better way to help teachers than to give them ideas and resources?
Thirdly, Part 3, games! ImprovEd Shakespeare games and activities from directors around the world:
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JUNE & AUGUST 2018 AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA
Enjoy this gallery of photos below.
SHAKESPEARE FOR ALL
Working with Shakespeare in education frightens many. Because Shakespeare experts, including professionals, surround us. Escaping them is difficult. This can be intimidating. Thus, feelings of dread usually accompany the act of presenting, but moreover be introduced to, the Bard.
For this reason, ImprovEd Shakespeare is here to help. Founder and Director, Andee Kinzy, offers the layman’s approach to Shakespeare.
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SHAKESPEARE FOR TEACHERS AND DIRECTORS
If you’re an English teacher, a theatre director, or a well-trained Shakespeare advocate, here you will find inspiration, as well as techniques, for making our favorite bard fun for Kids. Accordingly, we present old, new and improved ideas for introducing Shakespeare to youth for the non-Shakespeare-academic. Among them, we include theatre games, improvisation, tips, tricks, plus activities for using Shakespeare in education.
SHAKESPEARE FOR KIDS
Since 2011, ImprovEd Shakespeare has been exploring the Bard with youth through theatrical performance. Our signature scripts are a mix of modern narration plus original Shakespeare verse. With a focus on the story, including an abbreviated script length, our productions entertain all ages. Moreover, our catalog goes beyond the oft-used Midsummer Night’s Dream, or Romeo and Juliet. We’ve discovered that young people find much to their delight among many of Shakespeare’s works. Consider subscribing to our YouTube channel for family-friendly Shakespeare videos.
PERFORMANCES
Each fall and spring, ImprovEd Shakespeare develops a new production for live performance. In honor of the traditional Renaissance traveling troupe, during a period of a few weeks, we present Kid-friendly plays at various venues around town. Our Players, between 3rd-11th grade, gear themselves with playful, as well as engaging interpretations of works by the Bard of Avon. Suitable for all ages, each performance runs for about an hour.
Furthermore, these shows are always FREE. However, we gladly accept Donations! Additionally, visit ImprovEd Shakespeare, Shakespeare for Kids by Kids on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. And don’t forget to click on our BLOG for the stories behind these videos.
