John O' Groats Shakespeare United

John O

Robert Cohen as Shakespeare

Robert Cohen as Shakespeare in "Propaganda

“Our very own Will Shakespeare, is torn in two, trying to prevent being quartered, in addition to hanging and drawing. Managing the conflict is the nub of the show. This is a new play, written by Robert Cohen, who also skilfully plays the Bard in this production, directed by Ian Flintoff.” Daily Info, Oxford, April 2010

PICNIC BY THE AVON
Forty-two children and their teachers picnic with Shakespeare United on the banks of the Avon in Stratford
Picnic on the Avon
New Logo for YOU to use!

Please check out this logo - designed for us by

BEN

TRANCHELL

- and use it as you choose! Click "a logo to bring everyone together..." (above)  Logo Shakespere United for 2012

Links
Other useful links...

Comments

 

Click Here To Add Your Comments

From: Pat Mc Donnell (Mon 26th Sep 2011 at 07:24)
Website: http://www.patrickmcdonnell.us
Hi Shakespeare 2012:

Here is my email to Simon Hughes M.P. who was our chairman of the Rose Theatre Trust in 1989 where I was elected as the Rose Theatre Site Manager for the Rose Theatre Trust and committee member of the Rose Theatre Trust in 1989.

All my best,

Pat Mc Donnell

From: Patrick Mc Donnell
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2011 11:46 PM
To: simon@simonhughes.org.uk
Subject: In Memory of Jon Taylor Deputy Rose Theatre Manager for the Rose Theatre Trust in 1989

Dear Simon,

I was just made aware today that Jon Taylor the Deputy Rose Theatre Trust Site Manager for the Rose Theatre Trust in 1989 took his own life a few years after the campaign. The Rose Theatre Trust should have something at The Rose Theatre in memory of Jon as without him and us there would be no Rose Theatre today, end of story and trust me on that. Do the research and you will see that IMRY the developers had a very poor track record in this regard. We really were the ones who gave up the most and got nothing in return, so Jon’s very important work on the Rose Theatre Trust needs to be remember and this needs to happen. Believe me if it hadn’t been for Jon, five others others and me at 2am one Friday night in June 1989 at the Rose Theatre when the builders came back drunk to bulldozer her down, she wouldn’t be there now. We all risked our lives that night when we threw ourselves under the digger. Talk about the unsung heroes but now Jon is death, no more of this please. Put his name up there in the Rose Theatre and lets remember please what this person did for the Rose Theatre.

I can’t believe you won’t (now that your party is finally in power) get off your backside and have the Rose Theatre opened for her 25th anniversary.

Anyway, frustration isn’t the word at the slow progress.

All my best,

Pat Mc Donnell
Rose Theatre Trust Site Manager for the Rose Theatre Trust from May to September 1989.
From: Artificial Light (Fri 5th Aug 2011 at 14:39)
Website: http://www.wix.com/gerardine/artificial-light
On 11 September, as part of The Liverpool Shakespeare Festival 2011, Lodestar Theatre Co. will present a bold new theatrical experiment ‘Come and have a go if you think you’re bard enough’.
In short: Richard III has 25 scenes and 25 theatre companies of all sizes and styles to take part. The event is designed to celebrate the rich diversity of theatre locally and nationally, to show how Shakespeare’s plays can sit comfortably at the centre of innovative practice, and to bring different approaches to performance together in a unique and bold theatrical experiment.
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT has been invited to perform, and we have been given Act 3 Scene 2.
We are allowed only 3 performers, and the scene will be no longer than 5 mins in length.
Artificial Light would love any help or ideas either you or your readers can offer! How can we tackle this scene? What does it all mean? What are the main themes? HELP! Any reccomendations for useful websites etc most welcome!
From: Laurie Marder (Fri 21st Jan 2011 at 18:04)
...grandaughter of the late Dr. Louis Marder

I was digging through my laundry looking for socks in the room that only 4 months ago still housed my grandfather's Shakespeariana gallery (all-things-Shakespeare permeated every nook and cranny of the building, but only one room was set up as a mini-museum) when I heard the BBC World News story about the 38-plays-in-38-languages planned for the London 2012 Olympics. I smiled. I have goose bumps. My grandfather would have been thrilled--hell, he would have figured out a way to BE there! Oh. Death be damned--I think he already did so. In any case, as I continue sorting through his correspondence, books-in-progress, and teaching materials (the books & collectibles have already moved on) I'm sure there is some way I ought to become involved in this extraordinary event on his behalf.
From: colin (Mon 18th Jan 2010 at 11:17)
We love the idea and want to take part
From: Ian Flintoff (Wed 13th Jan 2010 at 14:54)
Website: http://www.pitchforkproduction.com
The project for the biggest Shakespeare celebration of all time, for all ages, cultures, towns, villages, schools, students, estates, in fact for everyone, helped and led by members of the performers' union, Equity, is steadily gathering pace. There are now supporters in all parts of the UK. But we need more! PLEASE JOIN US!
From: Shelley o\'brien (Thu 30th Jul 2009 at 15:13)
Website: http://www.madalicetheatre.co.uk
Fantastic Venture!!
I am an actress and also artistic director of MAD ALICE THEATRE COMPANY based in Consett Co.Durham. Our main work is open air theatre (Shakespeare )in the north east of england. Arts Council funding as well as numerous other funding support from local councils , trusts etc have funded our work . productions to date--MIdsummer, Much Ado, TEmpest. WE have just been awarded Northern Rock funding to enable us to research and develop further productions touring in the NOrth East and NATIONALLY so we should most certainly be performing open air Shakespeare in 2012 outdoors and then indoors so we are on board!!!
From: Sue Cullen (Mon 1st Jun 2009 at 23:41)
this is a really exciting opportunity - I am making tentative plans and hoping to initiate in talks with a stage school in the midlands, a big city law firm and The Central School of Speech and Drama for two or three diverse events - and writer/Director Christina Jones is on board for an innovative collaboration .........watch this space!
From: Elke Davies-von Mering (Mon 1st Jun 2009 at 16:11)
Website: http://www.hockerill.herts.sch.uk
Can't wait! This is an amazing opportunity for our school to become involved in something big and creative, and to showcase our work here within an exciting framework. Great to think that children today are putting their heads together about a national icon from 400 years ago!
From: sophia samaniego (Fri 10th Apr 2009 at 17:43)
HOORAY!!! what a lovely idea to do somthing cultural at the same time as sport


sophia aged 11
From: Patrick (Pat) Mc Donnell (Thu 9th Apr 2009 at 21:20)
Website: http://www.patrickmcdonnell.us
This is an amazing project. I was so happy to read about it in the British Equity Actor's newsletter this month. It seems fitting that William Shakepeare and the 2012 Games in London will go hand in hand. As someone who was a part of the "Save The Rose Theatre" campaign in 1989 in London(can you believe it is twenty years ago this year: May 1989) and I lived on the Rose Theatre site twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to protect her as the site manager for "The Rose Theatre Trust". It would be amazing if The Rose Theatre on the Southbank would be finally finished and opened to the public for this 2012 event. It could certainly hightlight The Rose Theatre and re-constructed Globe Theatre on the Southbank. It would be great business for that area and would put a focus on Britian's greatest and oldest export: William Shakespeare. I always did love how brilliant the British actors were when they were playing roles in Shakepeare's plays and this would be a way to highlight the amazing acting talent in the UK that haven't been able to get the work.

Thanks for a brilliant idea and project.

Patrick Mc Donnell
From: Martyn Harrison (Mon 6th Apr 2009 at 10:32)
Essex Branch of Equity were delighted to hear details from Ian on Saturday and will devote time at their next Branch meeting to discuss how members in the County can contribute to and support this imaginative project.

M Harrison
Vice Chair Essex General Branch
From: Alyn Gwyndaf (Fri 3rd Apr 2009 at 15:51)
Website: http://www.gwyndaf.com
This is an amazing project, Olympian in scale and ambition, to mount a nation-wide demonstration of our fine dramatic tradition. What more fitting welcome to a world focused on the UK in 2012 than to celebrate the culture for which we are world-famous. Great work!
From: Phil Hackett (Mon 23rd Mar 2009 at 13:28)
Shakespeare Country the official tourist board and marketing organisation for Stratford-upon-Avon representing the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust supports the Shakespeare 2012 campaign fully.

We would also like to see the Shakespeare Birthday celebrations becoming a national event by 2012, April the 23rd is the Bards Birthday, also the day he died and St Georges Day - Englands Day.

Explore Englands England
www.shakespeare-country.co.uk
0870 160 7930
From: Ian Carpenter (Sat 21st Mar 2009 at 17:49)
Website: http://www.mindwriter.co.uk
This is such a great idea, and frankly a lot more exciting to me than the Olympics. Currently in the middle of Bristol Uni\'s one-year Acting Academy, and fresh from \'doing\' the Bard, I would love to get involved locally or nationally. Live in Bath, which is always up for another Festival...
From: Sara Ford (Tue 17th Mar 2009 at 15:30)
All we need to do is match Ian Flintoff's imagination, belief and commitment and this enterprise will be spectacular.
From: John-Paul (Mon 16th Mar 2009 at 10:25)
Hurrah! This is the kind of thing we need in 2012, and indeed other years too...
From: Sheila Mitchell (Sun 15th Mar 2009 at 17:02)
Ian Flintoff's enthusiasm for Shakespeare 2012 which I first encountered in 2004 is extremely catching. The steering committee (Equity members) is now in place and actively pursuing the aim to spread the word to every nook and cranny of the British Isles. By the end of 2009 it is hoped that projects will start to be up and running. Watch this and other spaces to keep abreast of developments.
From: Giulia James (Sun 15th Mar 2009 at 14:20)
Website: http://www.creativeperformancelaboratory.com
***I'm with you all the way to 2012, learning, teaching and performing.
Long live Shakespeare: yesterday, today and tomorrow!
Giulia James
From: Frank Scott (Fri 13th Feb 2009 at 13:25)
Any more news about spreading the word?
From: Robin Williams (Wed 4th Feb 2009 at 14:58)
Website: http://www.theshakespearepapers.com
We’d love to be supportive over here in the States. After all, it’s our language too. I’ll keep checking back to see how your project is progressing. My focus is on teaching adults, those millions who are now ready to take another look at Shakespeare.
From: Frank Scott (Wed 4th Feb 2009 at 14:47)
Are you getting as many messages of support as you deserve? Keep going!
From: Laura Catherine Kressly (Wed 4th Feb 2009 at 14:44)
Website: http://www.spotlight.com/interactive/cv/1978-9083-0336
Dear Shakespeare 2012,

I am a London-based professional American actor who initially came to the UK to do a postgraduate degree in Shakespearean Acting. I ended up staying here and participate in the theatre world as fully as I can. Despite my training, I find it extremely difficult to find classical theatre companies willing to hire an American. Your call for people from all cultures inspired me to contact you. I would love to be a part of an Olympic-sized Shakespearean effort. I am extremely passionate about Shakespeare and love sharing his work with people who otherwise found his writing difficult, boring, or uninteresting. While I would prefer to be involved as a performer, my teaching and directing experience would enable me to work in other capacities as well as performing. I look forward to hearing from you with much excitement and can’t wait to learn more about the project.

Sincerely,

Laura Catherine Kressly


 Quick contact: write to shakespeare2012@aol.com

Powered by Create
Equity Members for Shakespeare United at Garrick Temple, West London

Equity Members at Garrick Temple

Anita Wright as Elizabeth in a new play by Robert Cohen for Shakespeare United

Anita Wright as Queen Elizabeth

"Anita Wright - brilliant!"

SEEING WHERE HE WAS BORN!
With Shakespeare United at his Birthplace
 
 
Seven year olds visit Shakespeare's birthplace with Shakespeare United after performing their own production of The Tempest.