Series synopsis
Working Shakespeare is an American documentary television series that premiered on July 15, 2003. It ended on July 15, 2003. It was created by Cicely Berry. It stars Kate Burton, Claire Danes, Blythe Danner and Lindsay Duncan.
How do we enter the heightened, extravagant language of Shakespeare and yet feel truthful in our contemporary world? How do performers excite the audience with Shakespeare's rich imagery and dynamic rhythm, yet make it real for the twenty-first century? We assume that a sophisticated intellectual background is required to grapple with Shakespeare. But there is a much deeper, almost primal response as available to inner-city students as to their counterparts in the private school to the sound and ...
Premise
How do we enter the heightened, extravagant language of Shakespeare and yet feel truthful in our contemporary world? How do performers excite the audience with Shakespeare's rich imagery and dynamic rhythm, yet make it real for the twenty-first century? We assume that a sophisticated intellectual background is required to grapple with Shakespeare. But there is a much deeper, almost primal response as available to inner-city students as to their counterparts in the private school to the sound and rhythm in Shakespeare's language which arouses our emotions: feelings of anger and sorrow, of passion and laughter. This landmark five-part video series gives voice to Shakespeare's most beloved and widely known speeches and sonnets, performed by a powerhouse ensemble of American and British actors, as they delve into the structure, meaning and power of Shakespeare's language.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Kate Burton
- Claire Danes
- Blythe Danner
- Lindsay Duncan
- Victor Garber
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Helen Hunt
- Robert Sean Leonard
Supporting cast
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 5 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 5 | July 15, 2003 | July 15, 2003 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muscularity of Language Motion and Rhythm | July 15, 2003 |
| 2 | Under The Text Subtext and the World of Play | July 15, 2003 |
| 3 | Prose and Verse Texts Language and Imagery Reveal the Character's Inner Landscape | July 15, 2003 |
Production
Release
| First aired | July 15, 2003 |
|---|---|
| Last aired | July 15, 2003 |
| Status | Ended |