AM171 “Regendering” Romeo and Juliet: Inclusivity in the Arts (Hybrid)

  • 17 Mar 2022
  • 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Hybrid- Remote Online & WICE, 10 rue Tiphaine, 75015 Paris, France
  • 22

Registration

  • Open to WICE Members & General Public
  • Open to WICE Members & General Public
Registration is closed

Modern Theatre Lecture Series  

The stage has always been a reflection of society. The revered playwrights of the past rocketed to theatrical celebrity status because their plays resonated with audiences. William Shakespeare, Anton  Chekhov, and Tennessee Williams alike spoke to something inside playgoers' souls, and they did so by writing plays which mirrored the societies and beliefs surrounding them. However, as the world changes, former belief systems are challenged, and our collective worldview shifts, how do these classical works stand up to the passage of time? In this hybrid lecture series, we will explore and discuss the recent shifts in North American theatre through the analysis of classical productions which have been altered to reflect a contemporary perspective.

“Regendering” Romeo and Juliet: Inclusivity in the Arts

March 17, 2022  NEW DATE

Theatre and the arts have often been seen as a safe space to explore sexuality and challenge convention - but to what degree is this true when performing classic Shakespearean texts? Romeo and Juliet were members of two longtime feuding families who would have forbidden such a union, but could that happen today? Maybe, if the partners were of the same sex….

Through the analysis of Paris’s Anglophone Cygnet Theatre’s 2021 production of Romeo & Juliet, seen in excerpts performed by a predominantly female cast, this lecture will explore the role of sexual and gender identity in Shakespeare’s best known tragedy. The class aims to open a space for conversation and will include group discussion.

About the Instructor
Born and raised in Vancouver, Taylor Scott moved to Paris after receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia. She has written, performed, and directed numerous Anglophone productions in Paris, and is a co-founder of Cygnet Theatre Paris - Paris’ New English Shakespeare Company. Her plays have been presented at Fourplay & Lemonade festivals, and most recently she directed a sold-out production of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet for Cygnet Theatre’s 2021 summer season.

photo credit: Frank Bernard Dicksee public domain

Good to know: 

  • WICE members can register for this event online using WICE's fast and secure online system. Simply click on the link and follow directions.

  • Not a member? You may be able to join some events as a nonmember for a small fee which includes a 3-month membership. Please send an email to wice@wice-paris.org if you have questions. We look forward to talking with you.