Organize Your Information

Any writing should be structured by a clear purpose: in this case the demonstration of the interest of your topic-selection from the play.

Begin with how and why you selected this topic, then arrange your specific performance data in vindication of your interest, showing how others might (or did) respond to it as audience, and why this response has value. Ideally, use audio-visual materials from your collection to corroborate your views.

Here are some examples of topics explored in this slideshow:

  • Take a series of illustrations of the play Richard III in order to discuss the concepts of Richard's character which they may reflect, in terms of settings, costumes, postures, and expressions. (Slides 1-6)

  • Use images of Cleopatra to display differing views of women's roles and any progressions that they may demonstrate from Shakespeare's own times to the present day. (Slides 7-12)

  • Select several images of clowns/fools to show how their appearance, whether traditional or contemporary, objectifies their functions both in comedies and tragedies. (Slides 13-18)

  • Explore social structures and attitudes governing visual presentations of characters in the courtly or other group scenes in this series of images to see if they show any divergences. (Slides 19-24)

  • To what extent can these different images of Hamlet be reconciled to give a coherent interpretation of the part as it evolves in the play? (Slides 25-30)

  • Use images of Much Ado About Nothing to reveal the relationship of Beatrice and Benedick and show how such relationships are treated in the various periods of the performances. (Slides 31-36)

Please offer comments and suggestions on any aspects the site to: Director Hugh Richmond at richmondh77@gmail.com. See samples at the site Blog.

Except where otherwise specified, all written commentary is © 2016, Hugh Macrae Richmond.