Tongues in Trees

Synopsis: Dawn Matheson’s exhibit, Tongues in Trees, was an outdoor installation in MacDonald Stewart Art Centre as a part of the Shakespeare-Made in Canada Festival. For the piece, seven adult learners from Action Read Guelph selected a Shakespearean monologue that best described their lives, and then performed them in their own way. The audio installation pares down the Shakespearean text to a level of open expression that can be understood by all regardless of class, educational standing or ability.

Audio clips:

"To be or not to be..." Hamlet (Act III, scene 1) Shawn Turner

"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks..." Romeo and Juliet (Act II, scene 2) Kendra Dewar

"The quality of mercy..." The Merchant of Venice (Act IV, scene 1) Kathryn Ssedoga

"Speak the speech, I pray you..." Hamlet (Act III, scene 2) Kathryn Ssedoga

"All the world’s a stage..." As You Like It (Act II, scene 7) Deborah Murray

"Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo..." Romeo and Juliet (Act II, scene 2) Richard Dankert

"I know a bank where the wild thyme blows..." A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Act II, scene 2) Cheryl Turner

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends..." Henry V (Act III, scene 1) Andrew Saunders.
Language: English
Country: Canada
Medium: Audio
Recording date: 2007

Notes: Streamed at: http://www.canadianshakespeares.ca/multimedia/audio/a_tongues_in_trees.cfm (accessed 8/2013). The site also contains video clips of Dawn Matheson and some of the adult learners talking about their experience of making the installation.

British Universities Film & Video Council