Twelfth Night

We are delighted that Darren Dyck, Assistant Professor of English Literature at Ambrose University, will lead this three-hour Study Day.  He is a Shakespeare scholar well-rooted in the classics of English and ancient literature, who is above all committed to close textual reading and teaching in the liberal arts tradition.

In the first seminar hour, participants will consider the play in its context: what prompted Shakespeare to write The Merchant of Venice? Is it important that originally the play was also called The Jew of Venice? Is Shakespeare’s treatment of Shylock, especially towards the end of the play, anti-Semitic? And, perhaps most interestingly, is Shylock even the play’s central character?

In the second hour, participants will get up close and personal with the language of Shakespeare’s text, looking at the poetry of the play to figure out how Shakespeare uses words.  This may involve some small-group discussion.

In the final hour, we will be joined by TSC’s Artistic Producer, Haysam Kadri for a discussion and demonstration of how the text informs on-stage work.

The goal of Study Days is to help participants get more out of reading and viewing classical drama, as well as to contribute to the growth of a community of learners around The Shakespeare Company.