Newsletter No.2: Macbeth and more.

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[IMAGE] An actor balancing lots of books in one hand.

Something wicked (and useful) this way comes...

In this edition of our Teach Shakespeare newsletter, we bring you news of two new free films available to watch now, as well as some rewarding activities for younger and older students to try out.

Alongside the film of our 2020 Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank production of Macbeth, recorded in the Globe Theatre earlier this year before we had to close, you can now also watch our 2018 hit A Winter’s Tale, directed by Blanche McIntyre. We’ve created a host of resources to explore the worlds of these plays and the common ground between them.

We hope you are keeping safe, enjoy this newsletter and on National Thank a Teacher Day, from everyone at the Globe: thank you.

Watch Macbeth now.

[IMAGE] Macbeth holding out his hands covered in blood. Lady Macbeth looks on with a hand on her chest.

Part of our annual Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank project, Macbeth is a 90-minute, fast-paced production using Shakespeare's language, created especially for young people. You and your students can watch it as many times as you like for free on our YouTube channel. There is also a fully audio-described version.

Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank gives students the opportunity to experience Shakespeare’s plays live in the architecture for which he wrote them: the Globe Theatre, and we’re delighted to be able to bring it to a wider audience this year through this film.

We'll keep the film up through the summer term for you to use and enjoy.

Resources for Macbeth.

[IMAGE] A red and black image of a rose over which the text 'Look like th'innocent flower, but be the serpent under't.' appears.

We've brought 10 key quotes from the play to life in a series of animations designed to help students learn and analyse the language and themes of Macbeth.

[IMAGE] Macbeth has his hands over his face. He is peering through a gap in his fingers.

Delve deeper into the language of Macbeth with: key quotes and speeches, a study of key extracts and questions, a BSL synopsis and much more.

[IMAGE] A close-up image of a pair of wide eyes staring straight out.

Follow the journey of our production with blog posts from the company, a behind-the-scenes episode of our podcast and get a taste of some careers in the arts with these tasks.

[IMAGE] Lady Macbeth appears in black and white. Her hands are in the air. A red liquid, like blood in water, is superimposed over her.

Learn more about the context of the play with fact sheets on Shakespeare's world, interviews with director Cressida Brown, and discussion points about the main themes.

[IMAGE] A man and woman holding and facing each other.

Lecturer and Research Fellow at Shakespeare’s Globe, Dr Will Tosh, introduces Macbeth in this pre-show talk.

[IMAGE] Actor Jess Murphy playing one of the Witches. She is dressed in a black top hat, brown ruff and traditional Elizabethan jacket and sleeves.

From bum roll to ruff, find out what it took to get actor Jess Murphy into costume to play one of the Witches in our 2013 production of Macbeth.

Watch The Winter's Tale.

You can now also watch our 2018 production of The Winter's Tale, directed by Blanche McIntyre, for free on our YouTube channel.

Prepare to be transported from the stifling atmosphere of the Sicilian court to the unbuttoned joy of a Bohemian festival in Shakespeare's late, great romance, available to watch until Sunday 31 May.

We've also packed our website with lots of content and learning resources around the play.

Even more resources.

[IMAGE] The interior of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse: an empty wooden, ornate stage with candelabra hanging above it.

Find out how the move to indoor theatres, like our Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, enhanced the magic of The Winter's Tale.

[IMAGE] A bear skull lays on an empty Globe stage.

Give KS5 students an opportunity to practice their text comparison skills with this resource, based on Macbeth and The Winter's Tale.

[IMAGE] A company of actors on the Globe stage. They're all jumping up joyously, their arms in the air.

Introduce your pupils to the plot of The Winter’s Tale and a chance for them to bring everything from forests to a flock of sheep to life using the interactive drama technique, Whoosh!.

[IMAGE] Actor Yolanda Vazquez is wearing an ornate Elizabethan ruff and gown. Her dark hair is up in a big bun.

In this episode of our Adopt an Actor series, actor Yolanda Vazquez, who played Hermione in our 2005 Original Practices production of The Winter's Tale, shares her experience of rehearsing and performing the play in the Globe Theatre.

Getting involved - active challenges for students.

[IMAGE] Image of a young girl shouting loudly with her left hand up in the air.

'Exit, pursued by a bear': a directing challenge.

This edition's creative activity looks at one of Shakespeare's most famous stage directions from The Winter's Tale, and challenges students to don their directorial caps and imagine how they would stage the moment (without the use of a real bear...)

Students are encouraged to present their ideas in written form, through sketches and diagrams, or using their computer and digital skills

Find out more

Michelle Terry's Thought of the Week.

[IMAGE] Photos of a woman looking upwards with her arms wide open and the text 'The lunatic the love and the power are of imagination all compact'

In her latest Thought of the Week, our Artistic Director Michelle Terry draws from Romeo and Juliet, Act II, scene 2, and asks: 'What's in a name?' and offers some reflections on the devastating impact of COVID-19. 

And finally.

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Please send us your thoughts to enable us to tailor this newsletter to your needs in the upcoming weeks and we'll try our best to help.