"Shakespeare Happens" is a concept created by professional actor and director Laura Catherine Kressly during her postgraduate training at the University of Exeter. "Shakespeare Happens" seeks to bring the works of William Shakespeare to people via the immediate, accessible form of outdoor street performance. The first performance of this production style was a 20-minute political street theatre piece entitled, "Henry IV in Iraq" inspired by Henry IV and his relationship with his son, Prince Hal. This unannounced piece brought political Shakespeare to Exeter's High Street. Laura further developed the idea of Shakespeare as street theatre for Chester Performs' "Roam the Rows" 2008 festival. Laura and actor Rob Lyndon rehearsed six contrasting scenes from different plays and performed them unannounced in different locations under the title, "Shakespeare Happens."
The next stage of "Shakespeare Happens" is "Shakespeare Happens: A Marathon," a three-day marathon of twelve Shakespearean staged readings to celebrate the Bard's birthday and to bring Shakespeare performed by a team of professional actors and directors to audiences free of charge. They will explore the Roman and History plays, giving audiences insight into the rehearsal process in a performance style influenced by street theatre and interactive performance developed over the last two "Shakespeare Happens" productions. Join us as we celebrate the birth of England's greatest writer and St. George's Day at The Scoop at More London on 23-25 April!
See more details about "Shakespeare Happens: A Marathon" here!