"The play's the thing" -Hamlet, William Shakespeare

Play reading groups have a long tradition.

In Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway," the character Peter Walsh describes reading Shakespeare out loud with some companions.

In E.M. Forster's "A Room with a View," the character of Mr. Beebe remarks on the pleasure of reading plays out loud.

And in his book, "Caravans," James A. Michener talks about how—in the mid-1940s—foreign embassy personnel in Kabul, Afghanistan gathered in the evenings and read plays out loud as a form of entertainment.

More recently, during the COVID lock downs, online play reading group activity soared. Here at WICE we thought this would be a very nice addition to our Literature program, and a recent survey of WICE members indicated that there's a real interest in it.


WICE's "From Page to Stage" group currently meets on the 1st Friday of the month is a willing member's apartment, where members read a play out loud and discuss it afterwards. The group looks for plays to read with the following qualities:

  • Available in English
  • Award-winning
  • 7 - 10 characters
  • 1 - 2 acts
  • Able to be read out loud in under 90 minutes

Furthermore, the group strives to have a balance in gender among the authors, and a mix of nationalities.

To date, the group has read the following plays:

  • The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde
  • The Autumn Garden, by Lilian Hellman
  • Great Catherine, by George Bernard Show

Participation in this group is free for WICE Members, although registration is required. Note: There are two reserved spots for new WICE members in each play reading.

If you would like more information or if you have questions, please email:

literature@wice-paris.org

Return to Literature

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • LY031 Play Reading: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Part I), by William Shakespeare

    • 03 May 2024
    • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • To Be Announced
    • 11
    Register

    A Midsummer Night's Dream - Part I


    Click to enlarge

    "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is one of William Shakespeare's most delightful comedies.

    The story unfolds in the enchanting forest of Arden, a mystical forest inhabited by mischievous fairies just outside ancient Athens. The plot revolves around the romantic entanglements of four Athenian lovers—Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius—whose passions are manipulated by the fairy king Oberon and his mischievous servant Puck. Amidst their escapades, a group of amateur actors rehearses a play for the Duke's wedding, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and magical transformations. As the moonlit night unfolds, love triangles unravel, identities are mistaken, and the whimsical intervention of the fairy world weaves a tapestry of enchantment. With its intricate plot twists, sparkling wit, and timeless themes of love, illusion, and the transformative power of the imagination, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" remains a beloved masterpiece of Shakespearean comedy, captivating audiences with its charm and whimsy for centuries.

    This is a relatively long play, with an estimated reading time of 2 1/2 hours. We are going to divide the reading into two parts: one in May and one in June. Each will be approximately 40 pages.

    The May reading will take place at a member's apartment. The address, door code, and phone number will be sent in the two reminder emails.

    The June reading will take place outdoors at the Jardin d'Acclimatation on the morning of WICE's annual picnic.

    Registering to read a part in the May reading does not commit anyone to also read in June. Nor will roles be maintained among those who do decide to participate in both readings.

    As always, two spots are reserved for new WICE members until a few days before the reading. If they have not been filled, we open them to members on the wait list.

    Registration opens on 22 April 2024.

    Show details

  • LU211 Play Reading: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Part II), by William Shakespeare

    • 21 Jun 2024
    • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • To Be Announced
    • 13

    A Midsummer Night's Dream - Part II


    Click to enlarge

    "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is one of William Shakespeare's most delightful comedies.

    The story unfolds in the enchanting forest of Arden, a mystical forest inhabited by mischievous fairies just outside ancient Athens. The plot revolves around the romantic entanglements of four Athenian lovers—Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius—whose passions are manipulated by the fairy king Oberon and his mischievous servant Puck. Amidst their escapades, a group of amateur actors rehearses a play for the Duke's wedding, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and magical transformations. As the moonlit night unfolds, love triangles unravel, identities are mistaken, and the whimsical intervention of the fairy world weaves a tapestry of enchantment. With its intricate plot twists, sparkling wit, and timeless themes of love, illusion, and the transformative power of the imagination, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" remains a beloved masterpiece of Shakespearean comedy, captivating audiences with its charm and whimsy for centuries.

    This is a relatively long play, with an estimated reading time of 2 1/2 hours. We are going to divide the reading into two parts: one in May and one in June. Each will be approximately 40 pages.

    The May reading will take place at a member's apartment. The address, door code, and phone number will be sent in the two reminder emails.

    The June reading will take place outdoors at the Jardin d'Acclimatation on the morning of WICE's annual picnic.

    As always, two spots are reserved for new WICE members until a few days before the reading. If they have not been filled, we open them to members on the wait list.

    Registration opens on 05 April 2024.

    Show details

  • LS031 Play Reading: Arcadia, by Tom Stoppard

    • 04 Oct 2024
    • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • To Be Announced
    • 13

    "Arcadia" is a 1993 stage play by Tom Stoppard that intertwines two storylines set in the same English country house, Sidley Park, but separated by two centuries.

    In the early 19th century, the story follows the inhabitants of Sidley Park, including Thomasina Coverly, a young girl fascinated by mathematics, and her tutor, Septimus Hodge. Their intellectual pursuits intersect with romantic entanglements and the landscape architecture of the garden.

    In the present day, a group of academics and historians investigates the events of the past, attempting to uncover the truth behind a mysterious hermit who lived on the estate and the fate of Thomasina.

    As the play unfolds, themes of love, science, literature, and the elusive nature of truth emerge, with Stoppard blending humor, intellect, and emotion to explore the interconnectedness of past and present, and the eternal quest for knowledge and understanding.

    This play is 48 pages and has 13 characters. The estimated reading time is 1 1/2 hours.

    The reading will take place at a member's apartment. The address, door code, and phone number will be sent in the two reminder emails.

    As always, two spots are reserved for new WICE members until a few days before the reading. If they have not been filled, we open them to members on the wait list.

    Registration opens on 09 September 2024.

    Show details

  • LU141 Play Reading

    • 01 Nov 2024
    • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • To Be Announced
    • 12

    On the 1st Friday of the month, WICE has a cold play reading group that is open to all WICE members. This group looks for plays to read out loud that meet the following criteria (although that is not always possible):

        English language 
        Award winning (or nominated)
        One or two acts
        7 - 10 characters
        Able to be read out loud in 1 1/2 hours

    Plays are generally chosen on a month-to-month basis, primarily (but not exclusively) from the candidate list of plays located on our webpage, From Page to Stage: Readings of Award-Winning Plays. When the play for April has been chosen, this listing will be updated.

    Note: Because the Paris Writers Workshop is taking place the entire first week of June, we are doing the June play reading on the 2nd Friday of the month.

    Registration the June reading session opens on 03 May.

    Show details