Jesus College launches Shakespeare Project

9 November 2021

A new collaboration between our Development Office and Access & Outreach team aims to bring Shakespeare to wider audiences, and to young people especially.

As part of our 450th anniversary celebrations, Jesus College is launching the Jesus College Shakespeare Project, an exciting new strand of activities inspired by Shakespeare’s works. Led by Access Fellow Matt Williams, Helen Morag Fellow and Professor of English Literature Paulina Kewes, Departmental Lecturer Amy Lidster, and Alumni Events Manager Peter Sutton, the project will present abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays, lasting approximately ninety minutes each, that are accessible to audiences of all ages.

 

The plays  – which begin with a special performance for alumni of The Comedy of Errors on November 27th –  will be performed by some of the best actors from across the University community, and income from ticket sales will help us to offer future performances free to schoolchildren – for many perhaps their first experience of live theatre.

Peter Sutton says, “It is our great hope that this project will continue to run in the years to come as we endeavour to work our way through the Complete Works of Shakespeare. In the words of The Sound of Music, we decided that the beginning was a very good place to start. We will never know for certain the exact order in which Shakespeare wrote his plays and every chronology that has been suggested has, to a greater or lesser extent, reflected the taste of the particular scholar. We wanted to start this project with a great sense of joy, liveliness, and fun, so have decided to begin with his three early comedies – The Comedy of Errors, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and The Taming of the Shrew. These three plays explode on to stage with the verve and passion of a young writer learning his craft.”

He adds, “We cannot wait to find out how young people will engage with these early plays, which ask questions above love, friendship, and identity, as well as the nature of comedy itself.”

You can read more about the Jesus College Shakespeare Project in the 2021 Edition of Jesus News (pages 74-75).

Book tickets

The Comedy of Errors

Saturday 27th November, Jesus College

13.30 – 17.00 

Alumni and friends wishing to book tickets to the performance can click here to go to the event booking page.