A collective of international artists who play to explore Shakespeare’s rehearsal & performance practices – especially those of stage-craft – exploring new tools for modern production & education.
A travelling Ensemble, they engage with communities around the world. As they tour, they create and re-create each show, listening to their environment, their audience, and each other. They adapt rehearsal methods from Shakespeare’s time to raise their shows in 3-5 days. Communication of heart is craft.
In the summer of 2018 a group of artists met in Holyhead, North Wales to raise an adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in five days. The Dreame Project was free for all, used 16th century lute music, 5 metre tall Bunraku puppets, a deck of clowns, & the audience and Ensemble shared a locally foraged organic meal at the end.
In the autumn of 2019 the Shakespeare Ensemble toured Japan, raising 3 plays in 7 days. Using modern reworking of Elizabethan rehearsal practices they reimagined the plays with every pass., and welcomed resonances from modern Kabuki practices.
photography by Matt Reznek, Kája Curtis, & the Ensemble
” The use of the space was marvelous. Striking adaptation of Shakespeare — so experimental, yet very traditional. What an unforgettable experience.”
audience member, tokyo
