May 16, 2017
BEN CRYSTAL Shakespeare in Original Pronunciation
events in Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin, Auckland
coordinated by Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand (SGCNZ)
Ben Crystal is a UK Actor/Writer/Producer who, with his father, David, has specialised in Original Pronunciation of Shakespeare. In 2011 he performed the title role in the world contemporary premier of Hamlet in OP, and in 2012 he was the curator and creative director on a CD of Shakespeare in Original Pronunciation for the British Library.
He is the artistic director of Passion in Practice and its Shakespeare Ensemble. Together they have performed staged readings of Macbeth, Henry V, and Dr Faustus at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe, and produced minimal rehearsal, cue-script rehearsed sold-out limited-runs of these plays in full production at a Wanamaker-like Loft in London.
Wednesday 17 May 6.00-7.00pm
Shakespeare on Toast ~ Public Talk
SGCNZ in association with Isaac Theatre Royal & The Court Theatre
Venue: Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
Book & print your free ticket from: www.ticketek.co.nz or call into the Isaac Theatre Royal Box Office
Max 1000 seats available
This is less of a talk and more of a performance. Ben makes sense of Shakespeare by putting him back into context. This includes an exploration of Elizabethan theatre and what a trip to a Shakespeare play in 1600 would be like, a master-class on the poetry style Shakespeare wrote in, and a look at Original Pronunciation (the accent Shakespeare would have spoken in). This is relevant for all ages – younger people experiencing the Bard for the first time through to older audience members who love Shakespeare and want to learn something new…
Wednesday 17 May 7.30-8.30pm
Shakespeare’s Original Pronunciation – as He Heard It ~ Public Talk
SGCNZ in association with Isaac Theatre Royal & The Court Theatre
Venue: Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
Book & print your free ticket from: www.ticketek.co.nz
or call into the Isaac Theatre Royal Box Office
Max 1000 seats available
What did Shakespeare’s accent – and that of his actors and audience – sound like? What can we learn from hearing and speaking his works in that accent? And with no recordings or transcriptions available to us, how do we know? Actor and author Ben Crystal (Shakespeare’s Words, Shakespeare on Toast) explores the fascinating 400 year old sound of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets, Original Pronunciation, showing a world hidden beneath our modern accent readings full of rhyme, rhythm, and a very subtle humour. And a not-so-subtle one too.
Monday 22 May 9.30-11.30am
Sticks, Sonnets & Verse ~ Theatre Industry Workshop
SGCNZ in association with Circa Theatre & TACT
Venue – Circa Theatre, Wellington
Cost: $25
Bookings essential – 14 max
Form on our website: www.sgcnz.org.nz
or via sgcnz.dawn@gmaill.com P: 04 384 1300 M: 027 283 6016
Exploring the physicality, heart, and mechanics of Shakespeare, with an introduction to Original Pronunciation, the accent of the time. A morning with Ben Crystal, actor, producer, and artistic director of the internationally renowned original practices Shakespeare Ensemble, Passion in Practice. Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and be prepared to move. No prep required.
Tuesday 23 May 5.00-6.00pm
Original Pronunciation Maori session ~ Public Talk
Ben Crystal with Moana Ete
SGCNZ in association with Circa Theatre, TACT, British Council
Venue – Circa Theatre, Wellington
Cost: Koha
Bookings: Numbers restricted to 100 – book via SGCNZ
Office P: 04 384 1300 or shakespeare.et.al@gmail.com
What did Shakespeare’s accent – and that of his actors and audience – sound like? What can we learn from hearing and speaking his works in that accent? And how does it sound differently with a Maori or Pacific Island accent? With no recordings or transcriptions available to us, how do we know?
Actor, author, & producer Ben Crystal (Shakespeare’s Words, Shakespeare on Toast) with Maori (Nga Tahu) / Samoan actor (SGCNZ Alumna), Moana Ete, explores the fascinating 400 year old sound of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. And for the first time ever, with a Kiwi twist – showing a world hidden beneath our readings in modern English accents full of rhyme, rhythm, and a very subtle humour.
Wednesday 31 May – Saturday 3 June 7.30pm
Crystal Clear Shakespeare ~ Public Performances
SGCNZ in association with Circa Theatre & TACT
Venue – Circa Theatre, Wellington
Cost: $35 Adults – $15 Students (Concession price available)
Bookings: www.circa.co.nz or P: 04 801 7992
How did Shakespeare’s plays sound in his day? UK actor, author and presenter of Original Pronunciation (OP), Ben Crystal is working internationally by Skype and then in Wellington with a troupe of renowned SGCNZ Alumni for an intensive Lab week.
Katie Boyle, Stevie Hancox-Monk, Kieran Morris, Jimmy O’Donovan, Alexander Sparrow and Maggie White will join Ben to perform a Shakespeare Showcase of readings of famous scenes, sonnets, songs, speeches and soliloquies in OP, revealing the subtle, and not-so-subtle, humour!
In the UK, Ben is artistic director of Passion in Practice and Shakespeare Ensemble.
Monday 5 June 11.00am-12 Noon
The Hearts & Minds of Shakespeare’s World ~ Public Talk
SGCNZ hosted by Paul Foster-Bell MP
Venue: Grand Hall, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Cost: $10 Adults; $ 5 Students
(Pre-booking essential for security purposes, via SGCNZ Office – form on website sgcnz.org.nz or P: 04 384 1300 by 25 May – no door sales)
What would it have been like to go to the theatre in Shakespeare’s time? How did his plays tap into his audience’s views on life and love? How did the social, cultural and political developments of the time shape his writing? His audience had a tremendous ability to suspend their disbelief, and a great appetite for story-telling; they would have been thrilled by his language play, by the new words he invented and by the semi-familiar worlds he and his actors took them to. His works are revitalised when seen through the eyes and minds of the people he was trying to entertain. And his London was going through a period of great change, as the language was being reinvented, and the world was rocked with the death of Elizabeth, and James’ accession to the English throne.
Actor and author Ben Crystal dives into the hearts, minds, ears and words of Shakespeare’s world.
Wednesday 7 June 2.00-3.00pm
Shakespeare on Toast
incl Q&A for secondary students
Organised by University of Otago & SGCNZ
Venue: University of Otago, College of Education Hall
Cost: Free of charge
Enquiries: tushar.robins@otago.ac.nz P: 03 479 8763
This is less of a talk and more of a performance. Ben makes sense of Shakespeare by putting him back into context. This includes an exploration of Elizabethan theatre and what a trip to a Shakespeare play in 1600 would be like, a master-class on the poetry style Shakespeare wrote in, and a look at Original Pronunciation (the accent Shakespeare would have spoken in).This is relevant for all ages – younger people experiencing the Bard for the first time through to older audience members who love Shakespeare and want to learn something new…
Wednesday 7 June 5.30-6.30pm
Shakespeare’s Original Pronunciation – as He Heard It
incl Q&A for public
Organised by University of Otago & SGCNZ
Venue: University of Otago, College of Education Hall
Cost: Free of charge
Enquiries: tushar.robins@otago.ac.nz P: 03 479 8763
What did Shakespeare’s accent – and that of his actors and audience – sound like? What can we learn from hearing and speaking his works in that accent? And with no recordings or transcriptions available to us, how do we know? Actor and author Ben Crystal (Shakespeare’s Words, Shakespeare on Toast) explores the fascinating 400 year old sound of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets, Original Pronunciation, showing a world hidden beneath our modern accent readings full of rhyme, rhythm, and a very subtle humour. And a not-so-subtle one too.
Thursday 8 June 7.30-9.30pm
Sticks, Sonnets & Verse ~ Industry Workshop
SGCNZ in association with Albany Junior High School
Venue – Performing Arts Centre at Albany Junior High School
1 Appleby Rd, Albany 0632, Albany, Auckland 0632
Cost: $25
Bookings essential – 14 max
Form on our website: www.sgcnz.org.nz or contact sgcnz.dawn@gmail.com P: 04 384 1300
Exploring the physicality, heart, and mechanics of Shakespeare, with an introduction to Original Pronunciation, the accent of the time. A workshop with Ben Crystal, actor, producer, and artistic director of the internationally renowned original practices Shakespeare Ensemble, Passion in Practice. Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and be prepared to move. No prep required.
Friday 9 June 1.30-2.30pm
Shakespeare’s Original Pronunciation Maori & PI Session
Ben Crystal with Taniela Prescott & SioneTuliakiono
for Secondary schools & Public
Organised by SGCNZ in association with British Council & Wesley College
Venue: Wesley College, 801 State Highway 22, Paerata, Auckland
Cost: Students – Free of charge; Adults – Koha
What did Shakespeare’s accent – and that of his actors and audience – sound like? What can we learn from hearing and speaking his works in that accent? And how does it sound differently with a Maori or Pacific Island accent? With no recordings or transcriptions available to us, how do we know?
Actor, author, & producer Ben Crystal (Shakespeare’s Words, Shakespeare on Toast) with Maori/ Pacific Island actors, Sione Tuliakiono and Taniela Prescott, explore the fascinating 400 year old sound of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. And for the first time ever, with a Kiwi twist – showing a world hidden beneath our readings in modern English accents full of rhyme, rhythm, and a very subtle humour.
Acknowledgements:
Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand (SGCNZ) is extremely grateful for the assistance from the following sponsors to facilitate Ben’s trip to New Zealand:
Julie Nevett
British Council
Circa TACT – Carolyn Henwood CNZM
SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival
Venues:
Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
Court Theatre, Christchurch
Circa Theatre & Staff
Whitireia Performance Centre
Victoria University of Wellington
University of Otago – Wendy Adam, Tushar Robins, Prof Lyn Tribble
UNITEC, Auckland
Albany Junior High School – Stewart Allan
Wesley College – Natalie Faitala
Actors:
Moana Ete
Katie Boyle, Stevie Hancox-Monk, Kieran Morris, Jimmy O’Donovan, Alexander Sparrow, Maggie White
Adam Walker – SM
Taniela Prescott & SioneTuliakiono
Accommodation:
Classic Villa, Christchurch via The Court Theatre Howard Tong & Jenny Flannigan
University of Otago
Ann & Kevin Lindsay
Hospitality & Travel:
British High Commission
University of Otago
Ace Rentals
Quentin Furlong
Neil Strom
For further information contact:
Dawn Sanders ONZM, QSM
SGCNZ CEO & Tour Coordinator
M: 027 283 6016 P: 04 384 1300
E: sgcnz.dawn@gmail.com
sgcnz.org.nz
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