Shakespeare Globe

Talks and Lectures

Perspective: Bedlam

Thursday 16 September

Playwright Nell Leyshon, director Jessica Swale and Tim McInerny (Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Bethlem Royal Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust) join a public panel discussion to explore the background, writing and staging of Nell's new play, Bedlam, inspired by Bethlem Hospital.
Chaired by theatre critic and freelance journalist Heather Neill.
More on the 2010 Theatre Season production of Bedlam »

Shakespeare is German

A Tale for All Seasons: Reflections on the German preoccupation with Shakespeare

Professor Rüdiger Görner (Queen Mary, University of London)
Thursday 21 October

When the Russian poet, Marina Zwetajewa, thought of German Literature she thought of Goethe, Schiller, Rilke and… Shakespeare. Her view reflected a German obsession with Shakespeare that began in the mid-8th century and that still resonates strongly in Germany today.

Professor Görner will assess some of the reasons for Germany’s pre-occupation with Shakespeare.

Shakespeare and George’s Circle

Dr Ray Ockenden (Wadham Colege, Oxford)
Tuesday 26 October

The years between 1871 and 1914 marked the most intense period of the German ‘take-over’ of Shakespeare.

The most telling example of this 'take-over' is Friedrich Gundolf’s book On Shakespeare and the German Spirit (1911). It explains clearly why Shakespeare was regarded by German writers as “one of us”. Gundolf was a member of the Circle around the poet and Shakespeare translator Stefan George. This talk will explore why Shakespeare fascinated Gundolf, George and Germany.

Made in Germany: Shakespeare's Sonnets

Profesor Manfred Pfister (Freie Universität Berlin)
Tuesday 2 November

Germany adopted the English poet as its third national classic beside Goethe and Schiller.

This special affinity is evident in Germany’s response to Shakespeare’s sonnets. German was the first foreign language into which the sonnets were translated and there are now over 70 German translations of the entire cycle. This talk will explore Germany’s fascination with the sonnets and various approaches to translation.

Time: 7pm
Venue: Nancy W. Knowles Lecture Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe
Tickets: £5 (£3 FoSG/concs/students)
For more on the Shakespeare is German season click here »

John Lyly Celebration

Publication of Mothe Bombie

Thursday 2 December

Globe Education celebrates one of the most influential and neglected writers of the late 16th century. John Lyly’s (c1553-1606) crackling wit and word-play is attracting actors, directors and scholars once again.

Globe Education has staged readings of all of John Lyly’s plays except Mother Bombie. Coincidentally this is the last Lyly play to be published in the Revels Plays Series by Manchester University Press.

We celebrate the launch of the publication and the staging of Mother Bombie with an introduction to Lyly by Professor Leah Scragg (Editor, Mother Bombie) followed by scenes performed by a Boys Company from the Edward VI Grammar School in Stratford upon Avon, directed by Perry Mills.

Time: 7pm
Venue: Shakespeare's Globe Sackler Studios (Park Street, 50m from Globe Theatre)
Tickets: £8 (£5 FoSG/concs/students)
For more on the Read Not Dead staged reading of Mother Bombie click here »

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