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Fall 2025
Shakespeare and the Collective Voices
Dr. Marie Roche
Plays under discussion:
Coriolanus
Julius Caesar
Timon of Athens
Course Description:
This course examines the dynamic role of the “collective” voice in Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens (1608), Julius Caesar (1599), and Coriolanus (1608), focusing on how groups—citizens, conspirators, tribunes, pirates, fishermen, and commoners—challenge, uphold, or complicate systems of power. We will analyze the many forms the collective takes, from the explicitly labeled “All” and “Chorus” to the more nuanced voices of minor characters who represent the pulse of the populace.
Through close readings, we will investigate how Shakespeare uses different narrative perspectives—first, second, and third person—to shape the identities of these groups. What do these voices reveal about public opinion, civic duty, and the fragile relationship between rulers and the ruled? How do the common people’s words and actions expose tensions within political hierarchies, and what role does their language play in constructing or deconstructing authority?
By situating these plays within their historical context and considering their resonance in contemporary society, this course invites students to rethink the significance of collective voices. Are they simply background noise to the tragedies of great men, or do they carry a subversive power of their own? Together, we’ll explore how Shakespeare’s “common” characters speak to the enduring struggles between the governed and those who govern.
📅 Dates: September 8, 2025, to December 1, 2025 (12 weeks) Potluck on December 8.
🕔 Schedule: Monday, 5:00 PM–6:30 PM
📍 Format: Hybrid (in-person & online)
Location:
Northampton Center for the Arts – The Barn
33 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA 01060
Website: nohoarts.org
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Fall Workshop on Coriolanus
Co-taught with Sarah Corbyn Woolf and Marie Roche, PhD
Shakespeare and the Collective: Workshop Overview
This workshop, Shakespeare and the Collective, explores the dynamic relationship between the personal voice and the collective voice, as well as the tension between the Popular Voice and the Voice of Power. Our central question is: what distinguishes speaking for, with, or against the Collective? Rooted in both theory and practice, the workshop examines how individual expression collaborates, communicates, and conflicts with group dynamics in the pursuit of power and change.
Coriolanus is an ideal example of personal ambition clashing with collective will, so it will be our core text. We will analyze the play itself and methods for performing it, including ensemble-building techniques (Jacques LeCoq), “freeing the natural voice,” (Linklater), and shared physicality (Bartenieff Fundamentals). Designed for both theater practitioners and curious participants from any background, this workshop is not only an exploration of Coriolanus and the collective voice but also an active exercise in group dynamics, collaborative conflict, and self-expression within community contexts.
📅 Dates: TBA
🕔 Schedule: Monday, 5:00 PM–6:30 PM (TBA)
📍 Format: Hybrid (in-person & online)
Location:
Northampton Center for the Arts – The Barn
33 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA 01060
Important Details:
- Please download the SLACK app to access reading materials and bring your laptop.
I am happy help set up SLACK during the first week of class. - Extra readings will be posted on SLACK. Although not required, these materials will
enhance our understanding of the context in which these plays were written. - Feel free to attend the discussions on one, two, or three plays and register
accordingly. As constructed, the plays in this program “speak” to one another, providing
an arc of study and allowing different facets of the topic to emerge and explore.
However, coming to study one play will provide threads to investigate at your own pace.
Shakespeare in Translation: Coriolanus en Français
Dr. Marie Roche
Prerequisite: Conversational college-level French is required. The class will be conducted entirely in French. A bilingual edition of Coriolanus, translated by Jean-Michel Déprats, will be provided to all participants.
Course Description:
This course invites students to engage deeply with Shakespeare’s Coriolanus through the lens of translation, exploring how language shapes meaning, emotion, and cultural resonance. By reading selected passages in both English and French, we will investigate how translation serves not just as a linguistic exercise but as an interpretive act that bridges—and sometimes widens—cultural and historical gaps.
Key questions will guide our discussions: How do we experience Shakespeare’s text when it’s no longer in its original language? What is gained or lost in translation—whether in terms of rhythm, wordplay, humor, or cultural nuance? How do translators navigate the challenge of rendering Elizabethan English into contemporary French while preserving Shakespeare’s poetic and rhetorical richness?
Students will participate in close readings, comparative analyses, and group discussions to unpack the choices made by translators like Jean-Michel Déprats. We will explore how translation affects tone, character, and meaning and consider the broader role of translation in disseminating Shakespeare’s works across time and cultures. This course is designed for students interested in literature, language, translation studies, and performance, offering a unique opportunity to experience Shakespeare’s enduring influence through the dynamic interplay of languages.
📅 Dates: October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (5 weeks)
⏰ Time: 4 PM–5:30 PM (subject to change)
📍 Location: Hybrid and in-person
Hadley Public Library
50 Middle Street
Hadley, MA 01035
United States
See map: Google Maps
Special Event!
Shakespeare in Our Lives: A Celebration & Fundraiser
Event Overview:
Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating 12 years of Community Shakespeare of New England and Milton Polsky!
This special event is more than a fundraiser—it’s a tribute to the transformative power of Shakespeare in our lives, a reflection on the voices we’ve uplifted, the stories we’ve shared, and the community we’ve built through theater.
This year, we also honor the life of Milton Polsky, a writer, educator, and lifelong lover of Shakespeare. Milt’s passion for the Bard spanned decades—he studied and wrote about Shakespeare, including his book Dear Will, Sound Advice from Shakespeare, and cherished The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park. With his wife, Roberta, he attended performances from the opening of the Delacorte Theater, delighting in the tradition of waiting in line for free tickets each summer. In August 2001, with Roberta by his side, he even slept overnight on the ticket line to see The Seagull.
We mourn Milt’s passing but celebrate his legacy, his love of Shakespeare, and the joy he found in theater. His spirit will continue to inspire us as we carry forward the tradition of making Shakespeare accessible to all.
Why This Event Matters:
For over a decade, Community Shakespeare of New England has provided a space where people of all ages and backgrounds come together to explore timeless texts, engage in meaningful dialogue, and find their voices both on and off the stage. Your support ensures that we can continue offering educational programs, performances, and workshops that inspire critical thinking, creativity, and community connection.
More information on the event will be posted as it becomes available.
Call to Action:
Help us raise the funds needed to sustain and grow our work. Whether you’ve been part of our journey from the start or are just discovering us now, your contribution will help keep Shakespeare’s legacy alive in New England for years to come.
📅 Date: November 7, 2025.
⏰ Time: TBA
📍 Location:
Northampton Center for the Arts – The Barn
33 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA 01060
Tickets: TBA
Register for Fall 2025!
Please wait for the the Registration payment portal to open after submitting your registration. There is a slight delay.