British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Hobart Shakespeareans, The

Synopsis
Television documentary set in an inner-city school in Los Angeles, California. Rafe Esquith teaches fifth-graders (10-year-olds) the standard elementary school subjects plus an added Shakespeare course at the end of the year. The children are Latino and Asian Americans and none have English as their first language or speak English at home. Esquith says he uses Shakespeare as a microcosm for the values he wants his pupils to absorb - discipline, team work, hard work, civility. The children perform their own version of Hamlet and speak of how they have been changed by the experience. The highly regarded Shakespeare programme has gained such notoriety that actors such as Michael York and Ian McKellen have called in to visit. The classroom motto on a banner reads ‘There are no shortcuts’.
Language
English
Country
United States
Medium
Television; Video
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Transmission details
24 May 2006 at 21:00 (Channel: BBC4)
Duration
60 mins

Credits

Director
Mel Stuart
Producer
Mel Stuart
Cinematographer
Alex Rotaru
Contributor
Ian McKellen; Michael York; Rafe Esquith
Cast
Alan AvilaHamlet
Lidia MedinaGertrude
Damien MendietaPolonius
Brenda De LeonOphelia

Additional Details

Production type
Documentary/Educational/News
Plays
Hamlet
Subjects
Drama; Education
Keywords
schoolchildren; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); teaching; Amateur theatre; Multiculturalism; School productions

Notes

Notes
DVD extras include: Filmmaker Interview; Filmmaker Biography; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection
History
First shown on PBS in the POV series 6 September 2005.

Online Availability

Online URL
http://hobartshakespeareans.org/

Production Company

Name

Mel Stuart Productions

Address
USA
Name

Thirteen/WNET

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7255 1444
Fax
020 7436 0165
Address
21 Stephen Street
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

Distributor

Name

Docurama Films

Email
info@newvideo.com
Web
http://www.docurama.com External site opens in new window
Phone
+1 212 206 8600
Fax
+1 212 206 9001
Address
New Video Group
902 Broadway FL 9
New York
NY 10010
USA
Notes
Docurama Films, part of the US New Video group, is dedicated to making critically acclaimed and cutting-edge documentaries available digitally and on home video. Launched in 1999 with the DVD release of D.A. Pennebaker’s BOB DYLAN: DON’T LOOK BACK, Docurama continues its mission to unearth and release the great classic documentaries of the last fifty years while spreading the word about filmmakers who are taking the form to new heights. The Docurama catalog features a wide span of titles from varying genres including the arts, history/politics, environmental, ethnic interest, LGBT, music, and socio-cultural issues. Sale on DVD or download via ITunes.

Online Retailer

Name

www.shoppbs.org

Address
USA
Notes
The shop for the sale of PBS programmes.

Record Stats

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