“The applause, delight, the wonder of our stage.” (by Ben Jonson)

Master Classes from 3 Shakespearean Actors! First stop was the Royal National Theatre on London’s South Bank to meet actor Paterson Joseph.

Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus

Stage acting is a craft and Paterson has spent a lot of time training to become an actor. He has appeared in a number of Shakespearean dramas and even directed Romeo and Juliet in the community in he which grew up.

We had the privilege of seeing Paterson on stage during our visit to London in a play called The Royal Hunt of the Sun. I left inspired by his dedication and love for what he does.

The Scottish Play with Michael Stulbarg. Ask any actor, director, or crew members working in the theatre; they all know about the Macbeth superstition. According to this theatrical superstition, saying the name “Macbeth” brings bad luck. The play is filled with images of evil and the supernatural, and, for this reason, this tragedy is often referred to as ‘The Scottish play ’.

NYC Actor Michael Stuhlbarg shared one of the famous speeches from Macbeth. Most of Macbeth is written in blank verse, which is supposed to sound like everyday speech. Of course, people in Shakespeare’s time spoke differently than we do today.

While Michael acted, we followed along by looking at the text. I like reading a play before seeing it. The annotations help clarify what is going on in the play.

Hamlet with Michael Cumpsty. It has been said - by actors, scholars, and Shakespeare lovers the world over - that Hamlet is the greatest play in the English language. Actor Michael Cumpsty has appeared both on and off-Broadway, and it was a real treat to have a private reading of this great play from such an extraordinary actor.

To be honest, the first time I read Hamlet I was very intimidated. I think a good way to approach this play is to look at its smaller pieces, like the major soliloquies. This makes the play much more manageable. For me, once I figured out what was going on in the major speeches, it was much easier to weave the story together.

Whether Hamlet is the greatest play or not, one thing is certain: Shakespeare’s works are universal. They have been and are still performed around the globe in virtually every language. The ideas that Shakespeare’s characters speak are thoughts that every human being, from every time, of every age, and every culture have experienced.

Enhance your Shakespearean knowledge: Learn about Beaumont and Fletcher.

Complete your adventure with Christopher Schram.

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