As a theatre artist, I’ve always thought of Shakespeare’s plays as opportunities rather than entities. I look at a script and see infinite possibilities: where will it be set? how will it be cast? how will we connect with the audience? what experience will we share? how will this resonate?

As an educator, I understand how this approach changes everything as we introduce people to Shakespeare. For too long students and teachers alike have been intimidated by Shakespeare, under pressure to somehow ‘get it right’. Too often Shakespeare is introduced as a cultural icon, treated as the epitome of learning and academic worth. This creates an ideal that’s impossible to live up to, for both teachers and students.

A Shakesperience provides an alternative introduction to Shakespeare that restores a sense of opportunity and possibility to learning about Shakespeare’s plays and poems. Rather than focusing on traditional understanding or appreciation, we celebrate the many and varied ways Shakespeare might resonate for us today. The piece intercuts short passages of text with ideas, insights, and brief anecdotes presented in a relaxed, accessible, playful way.

The video and its companion curriculum challenge assumptions and defy traditions. It welcomes curiosity, prioritizes questions, and celebrates individual interpretation. It’s impossible to get something right (or wrong) if it’s all about how you interpret it. And interpretation is what brings life to a Shakespeare play, transforming it from an old text to a vibrant, contemporary work of art.

The underlying philosophy of A Shakesperience aligns with the mission of Bard Education: to inspire community. We do this by listening to and learning from one another. We do this by celebrating individuality while nurturing compassion and collaboration. We do this by holding Shakespeare up not as a beacon of light or truth, but as a mirror through which we can see ourselves reflected, in all our infinite variety. We believe the nuances of Shakespeare’s language open the mind, the complexity of his characters opens the heart, and the expansiveness of the stories inspires the imagination.

As a theatre artist, I’m moved, inspired, and grateful for the incredible contributions of the many collaborators on this project. I’m excited about what we’ve created together and eager to share it with you. As an educator, I recognize that it’s only the beginning. I hope this introduction acts as a catalyst, inspiring questions, ideas, and interpretations I could never imagine. I can’t wait to discover where you take this and to learn more from you.

– Mary Hartman, Director of Education