We have some very exciting industry professionals joining us for this month’s Workshop, so don’t miss your chance to build on your personal practice, discover new audition material from the canon, and work with local talents and the directors of Shoreditch’s Premier Shakespeare company, Malachite Theatre.

CLASSICAL ACTING: 2 DAYS – JANUARY 16th & 17th, 2016

SHAKESPEARE IN THEORY AND PERFORMANCE

Shakespeare Workshops Alberta offers courses in classical performance run in association with Shoreditch’s (London, UK) resident 5-star Shakespeare Company, Malachite Theatre. Fresh from their recent 5 STAR, sold-out run of King Lear at the historic Rose Playhouse, Bankside (starring BAFTA nominee John McEnery in the title role); The Malachites bring their expertise in Shakespeare to Canada with new hands-on training intensives now running in Alberta. Based upon contemporary Elizabethan performance methodologies, our intensive short courses will set you on a new path with classical text, speaking Shakespeare with confidence and helping you stand out in this competitive industry. Our sessions are open to actors of all ages and skill levels wishing to improve or refresh their approach to Shakespeare. They are a combination of “Intro” courses, where we explore our approach to verse and the inner-workings of Elizabethan original practice methods, and “Focus” sessions, where we then apply our new skills in a rehearsal setting, often with a focus on a particular piece(s).

PLEASE NOTE: In order to attend a Focus session, you MUST have previously attended an Intro course to familiarize yourself with the way of working. Once you have completed the Intro course, you can attend any ongoing Focus sessions and extra events we offer. We always encourage all participants to take the full workshop course on offer as it allows us more one-to-one time developing your individual skills. This month we are offering a short, intensive weekend course on January 16th & 17th with a focus on Twelfth Night to celebrate the season:

DAY 1 – January 16th (8hrs): Introduction to Shakespeare and Elizabethan Performance Techniques A crash course in contemporary and contextual approaches to Shakespeare, especially focused on the challenges that classical texts present Canadian actors. Improve your verse reading, refresh your approaches to text and hone your audition technique in this custom-made, stand-alone introductory workshop.

The Musicality of Shakespeare: A Fresh Approach to Verse through Music Develop your skills for easy, natural verse delivery using musical methods and tools to find freedom and connection through verse, and discover how to work with your natural accent. In addition to using musical tools to break down dialogue, we will explore how Shakespeare uses music both as a playwright and in performance on the Elizabethan stage, and how we use these same methods today.

DAY 2 – Focus on Twelfth Night (8 hrs): A hands-on course where participants apply their new classical acting skills in practice. Participants will learn to ‘listen to Shakespeare’, working on text from the ‘bottom-up’ to develop a truthful, connected performance. We will work monologues, duologues and scene studies from Twelfth Night, as well as other material brought by participants. This is a great opportunity to explore one of Shakespeare’s best-loved, most cunningly-crafted comedies, develop your rehearsal process and add pieces to your personal audition repertoire.

INTRO TO SHAKESPEARE, DAY 1: January 16th- $100
*You must take our Intro course before attending a Focus session

TWELFTH NIGHT FOCUS SESSION, DAY 2: January 17th-$100
*Available as a stand-alone only to participants who have previously taken the Intro course

We strongly encourage all participants to join us for both days of the short course. Please email daniellelarose@live.ca by January 8th 2016 for more information and to sign up as spaces are limited. You can also visit our Facebook Page – Shakespeare Workshops Alberta or follow us on twitter @Danielle_LaRose #ShakespeareWorkshopsAB for all updates and info. See what our past participants had to say!

To learn more about The Malachites’ approach, education programs, and production history in London, visit www.themalachites.co.uk

• “Malachite Theatre production is giving the RSC’s Stratford production a definite run for its money” – Live Theatre, London
• “This gifted company deserve West-End exposure” –  British Theatre Guide
• “To rival any climactic moment seen on the RSC stage” – The Stag
• “A gem. Were there six stars, I would have awarded them. This is a superb production…totally engaging, highly accessible and, most of all, alive!” – Audience Member
• “Lovely to hear Shakespeare very well delivered and sensitively brought to life” – Audience Member
• “Spectaular!! … delivered with passion and gusto. Highly recommended for all lovers of Shakespeare where the focus is on the words of the Bard” – Audience Member

For many more 5 STAR reviews check out www.themalachites.co.uk