British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Off by Heart Shakespeare

Synopsis
Television documentary aimed at getting young people engaged with Shakespeare’s language. Over the past year thousands of secondary schoolchildren took part in a competition to learn some of Shakespeare’s great speeches. Nine finalists went to the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and recited speeches from Romeo and Juliet and Henry V. There are brief shots of Cicely Berry coaching the children in a voice and movement workshop. The final three were then asked to perform Hamlet’s ‘To be,or not to be’ soliloquy. The judges are Simon Schama, Imogen Stubbs and Samuel West. The programme is hosted by Jeremy Paxman. The winner was Nuha Bazeer.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Verse speaking; Talent contests; Soliloquies

Credits

Director
James Runcie
Producer
James Runcie
Contributor
Cicely Berry; Imogen Stubbs; Jeremy Paxman; Samuel West; Simon Schama

Archive

Name

British Film Institute

Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7255 1444
Fax
020 7436 7950
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
London
W1T 1LN
Name

Learning on Screen Off-Air Recording Back-up Service

Email
services@bufvc.ac.uk
Web
http://bufvc.ac.uk/tvandradio/offair External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7393 1514
Fax
020 7393 1555
Address
For Learning on Screen Members only
77 Wells Street
London
W1T 3QJ
View this record on the Shakespeare site for additional details

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