Unleashing Shakespeare's Power - Mastering the Art of Performance in Every Text

Studying Shakespeare is like unlocking a superpower for actors. It ignites a profound connection to language, emotion, and character. The mastery of his works becomes a bridge to accessing any modern text with ease and depth. Shakespeare empowers actors to command the stage with heightened artistry, unraveling the complexities of human nature and breathing life into every word. It’s a transformative journey that unleashes the actor’s potential.

Format:
5-week course, with each class lasting 2-3 hours (duration adjusted based on participant numbers)

Maximum of 5 participants per cycle

Participants bring in a new text each week for 4 weeks, allowing for cumulative growth and development.

The 5th and final class integrates all the techniques learned, using one of the previously chosen pieces or a new one.

Fee: $499 for the whole 5-class cycle

Before Class:
Choose a 14-20 line piece of Shakespeare and submit it to Lynsey the night before No restrictions based on age, gender, or race in text selection Remove all punctuation except full stops Don't memorize the text Restate the text concisely in your own words, while preserving its original thought groups, e.g.:

"To be or not to be, that is the question. Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Or to take arms against a sea of troubles And by opposing end them."

[One of many possibilities!]

"Should I live or die? That's the debate. Is my purpose to endure life's punishments or defy and defeat them?"

COURSE MODULES:

Module 1 - The Text Game
Explore different text forms: blank verse, prose, rhyming couplets, sonnets
Discover the power of iambic pentameter and its rhythmic impact
Understand breath and the significance of line endings

Module 2 - The Argument and Antitheses Game
Master the art of constructing compelling arguments in your performances
Embrace the use of antitheses to create dramatic tension
Develop characters through metaphor and imagery

Module 3 - The Action Game
Uncover the transformative power of action verbs and their implications
Explore significant themes within Shakespeare's works
Emphasize the active nature of speech
Understand the impact of first and last stresses in delivering lines

Module 4 - The Insight Game
Conduct a forensic analysis of Shakespeare's language
Harness the energy and demands of each word
Study the punctuation conventions of the First Folio

Module 5 - The Ultimate Game
Integrate all techniques learned throughout the course
Receive coaching on textual clarity and performance
Refine your delivery for maximum impact

About Lynsey:
Lynsey, based in the UK, is an accomplished actor with a classical theatre training in London and an English degree from Oxford University. Her experience includes performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, training under John Barton and Cicely Berry. Lynsey participated in Scaffold Shakespeare's "Play Out the Play" three-year project, earning the Owle Schreame award in 2016. She also performed in "Speak Low if You Speak Love" at Hampton Court Palace, a play created by the company using the Sonnets. During the pandemic, Lynsey appeared multiple times with The Show Must Go Online, performing the entire First Folio live on YouTube, garnering hundreds of thousands of views. Harvard University's Jeffrey R. Wilson even used these productions to teach his "Why Shakespeare?" class. Lynsey has also showcased her talent in plays by Shakespeare's contemporaries, Ben Jonson and Christopher Marlowe, and has been a PAA Studio member since 2019.