TASK 1: 

Get Inspired

WATCH In 2016, The British Council celebrated the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare's death through a campaign called "Shakespeare Lives." Watch the video below to learn more.   What does it tell us about why Shakespeare's works are still so relevant today?

TASK 2:

Read, Analyze, and Research

YOU WILL BE CREATING A DIRECTOR'S CONCEPT FOR ONE SCENE FROM ONE OF THE PLAYS WE ARE FOCUSING ON IN CLASS (MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING OR TITUS ANDRONICUS). 

THE FIRST STEP TO DEVELOPING A CONCEPT IS TO READ THE PLAY WITH INTENTION.

TASK 3:

Historical and Cultural Context

You will be re-imagining a scene from one of Shakespeare's plays; thinking of new and inventive ways to produce the scene.  In order to re-imagine a play, it's important to deeply understand what the play is about and to understand what the original production may have looked like.  This trailer (linked below) from a 2018 production of Hamlet at London's Globe Theatre offers a glimpse into what it might have been like to attend a play during Shakespeare's time.  Although there are notable differences in the staging, including the use of male and female actors and non traditional gender casting, this powerful trailer in a very short time gives us a sense of the playing space and some historical production values, making it easy to imagine the play as it may have been in Shakespeare's time.

Understanding the play and the historical and cultural context, gives insight into the themes of the work and the statements Shakespeare was making, and how the production values helped create meaning for the watching audience.  As you re-imagine your scene, think about the audience who might attend your production.  

How might your concept make this ancient play come alive for a unique community or culture? 

What production values might you change if this play is presented to your community?  

Thinking about these questions will help you re-imagine the work in a way that is powerful and relevant to your own unique community.

TASK 4:

Exploring Director's Styles

The director is the person responsible for coordinating the artistic efforts of the different designers and actors into one unified vision for the production.  This unified vision is based on the director's interpretation of the meaning of the play and the purpose for presenting the production.  One of the first jobs the director must do is to research to decide what this play means and how they will tell the story.  This research will inspire and determine the unifying vision or concept.  The director must then communicate their vision using both words (director's concept statement) and images (vision board). 

When directing classic plays, directors sometimes re-imagine the setting, time, costumes or other supporting details in order to communicate a unique vision for the meaning of the play.

TASK 5:

Learn About Visual Thinking

To create a director's concept, you will need to think about the theme and meaning of the play and also to communicate the theme and meaning of the play.  In order to communicate the theme and meaning as you see it, you will need both a written director's concept statement and a vision board collection of images or objects that communicate the play's meaning visually to others. In the next step, you will be collecting images and objects to create a vision board, the visuals you will collect will help you to define and communicate your vision through a director's concept.

The video below will help you understand how to communicate visually.  In this video, the director explains their concept for a production of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, through a collection of images.  For this director, the play can be compared to a circus.  The circus becomes the central metaphor for the play. 

How does the video help communicate the director's vision through visuals?

In what ways does the director use both literal and abstract images to communicate their vision?