Multimedia
“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.” – Jaques, As You Like It, Act Two, scene seven
Acabashi. (2018, March 22). Shakespeare's Globe 01.jpg [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons.
Shakespeare wrote his plays not to be read but to be acted out on stage. Watching his words come to life can be a life-changing experience, and these multimedia resources will certainly enrich your reading experience. Citations for all of these works can be found on the References page.
Shakespeare's Restless World is a 20-part documentary series produced in 2012 by the BBC and hosted by the British History Museum. The episodes are short--about fifteen minutes each, and the premise is very clever. Each episode centers around one object and its significance either to Shakespeare or the world in which he lived. For instance, in one episode, host Neil MacGregor discusses a peddler's trunk that dates back to Shakespeare's era. This leads to a discussion on the many people who traveled the roads in Shakespeare's day. Many of the episodes also include excerpts of Shakespeare's works for listeners to enjoy.
Hank and John Green, founders of Crash Course, created a YouTube channel that teaches complex subjects to school-aged children in a way that’s both entertaining and digestible. Their collection of videos on Shakespeare ranges from the playwright’s life to his major works and cultural impact. Since the course is aimed at younger viewers, the videos are colorful and fast-paced. They are a quick and easy way for students to get some context of the life, times, and works of William Shakespeare.
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a world-famous theatre company based in Shakespeare's hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon. While their Learning Zone site offers study guides and other educational materials, the wealth of multimedia resources makes this site invaluable for any student of Shakespeare. Videos include scene performances and interviews with the actors, but the real gems are the videos that explain complex poetic terms such as iambic pentameter, rhyming couplets, and antithesis. Students will also find the interactive scene explanations to be helpful.
The official YouTube channel of the Globe Theatre, viewers get much more than just videos of important scenes. The videos offer behind-the-scenes tours of the theatre, with the host explaining not only the architecture of the theatre but also its historical significance. The channel also has mini-documentaries, where viewers can learn more about theaters in the Elizabethan era. The "That Is the Question" section of the channel answers popular questions, including ones about Shakespeare's sexuality and how the original Globe Theatre burned down.
Ranked the number one podcast about Shakespeare, host and historian Cassidy Cash explores Shakespeare’s life from obscure and overlooked angles, such as which foods he would have eaten, the wine he would have enjoyed, and the castles he wrote about. Episodes range from 30 to 60 minutes and are released every Monday. While scholarly in nature, Cash presents the subject in a way that’s both fun and entertaining, even for students. There are currently over 200 episodes for listeners to enjoy.