Can ordinary uneducated/uncultured people follow a Shakespere play?

[Nevertime]

I did English Lit Olevel (B) but have to say I did it mainly by "learning" the passnotes, I never did understand any Shakespere I read or understand the answers I wrote!

I haven't looked at any Shakespere in the 30 odd years since. Most of my friends are from similar backgrounds.

In the interests of broadening my horizons I find myself the proud owner of 2 tickets for A Comedy of Errors. Will I be able to follow what's going on?

I need to invite someone, most people I know will feel the same way I do, how do I "sell" it to them? Will we have a clue what's going on?

Or am I overthinking and should approach it like any other theatre production?

Yes, it's a very funny show. You'll have a great time.

Yes. Productions are brilliant,

I’m an English teacher and love Shakespeare, but my husband is not as enthralled. We’ve seen a number of productions together and he’s loved and understood them. Maybe not every word, but still.

Took my young kids to see a version of twelfth night and they enjoyed it too even though they did nit always get the language.

I saw the comedy of errors at the theatre at around age 12 and mostly could follow it.. and I'm certainly not cultured or educated 😂 so I think you'll do just fine!

Yes, RSC at the Barbican.

Well, the first person I asked said yes without hesitation.....17yo DS2!

if done well, yes.
if not, then it can be a slog.
I saw a marvellous titus andronicus in the globe and an absulutely awful midsummer night's dream at rsc stratford...

I've requested a children's version from the Library

It is much easier to see than read. I saw Julius Caesar and I was convinced it was modernized as it was so easy to understand and enjoyable. It wasn't, it was just a great production!

Watching a play and studying it in English are totally different things.

Watching it is very different to reading it.
I did English Lit Alevel and then a degree but it wasn’t until I saw Shakespeare actually performed that it really made sense

I love Shakespeare and I'm an absolute thicko. You'll be fine.

@Nevertime

Yes, RSC at the Barbican.

Well, the first person I asked said yes without hesitation.....17yo DS2!

Very jealous, it will be great And if but you are allowed to leave

Yes definitely it makes much more sense when you see it performed. The dialogue is conveyed through tone, gesture, expression, props, etc so the meaning is much clearer than reading the text. I still remember how much I enjoyed the Tempest and Midsummer Night's Dream as a teenager and how different they were to struggling through a dry text book.

There's probably a synopsis in the programme. It gets very good reviews though, I wouldn't worry. Seeing a comedy is very different from reading eg a history play.

A mate of mine went to see that production recently. He's well educated but not a big Shakespeare fan and he said it was properly funny. I hope you have a great time.

I went to see The Tradegy of Macbeth last month. It was brilliant and I understood it. Within a few minutes it became very clear. It was the first Shakesphere I've seen since about 1978.

Much easier to understand a Shakespeare play being performed, than as a script you read.

A play? Definitely. This is the entire reason why many teachers wanted to remove Shakespeare from GCSE reading lists - they make absolutely no sense unless you can watch it. It’s part of the reason why private schools prioritise drama and drama performances so much - to help kids understand what they’re studying.

Honestly, I would steer clear of the Histories at first. You really need a working knowledge of the Kings, princes & aristocracy of the period to get your head around who the characters are and how they are inter-related.

Some of the more popular comedies & tragedies are much more accessible with gripping plots, vivid characters, famous speeches and even some jokes. Examples are Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice (which is as relevant today as it was 400 years ago), The Taming of the Shrew.

I would suggest reading some revision notes or a synopsis first, then seeing a proper professional production. The directors often cut out some of the boring bits to keep the plot moving and the actors bring the text to life.

It sounds like a fun production - this might (or might not!) give you a flavour of the story:

www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/royal-shakespeare-company-the-comedy-of-errors

I took DS 14 to see Macbeth a couple of years ago (he was studying it for GCSE) and seeing it on the stage meant that it all made so much more sense.

This is the entire reason why many teachers wanted to remove Shakespeare from GCSE reading lists - they make absolutely no sense unless you can watch it.

Why can't you watch it? There are films, if you can't get to a live performance. The BBC did the whole lot some years ago, and there are other versions of the best known plays. Umpteen versions of Hamlet - I saw a good few of them when I did Hamlet for A Level.

I understand zero of an opera even with subtitles or sung in a language I understand so I'm not sure I believe that.

To be fair, I think that's more to do with the ridiculous plot of literally every single opera. They could all be sorted by everyone sitting down and having a nice chat around the table but where's the drama in that?!

I'm educated and cultured and can't fucking understand Shakesphere. Doesnt matter in the slightest. Kick back, relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

The irony of my post.

I always tell everyone that if they want to understand Shakespeare’s histories then the Godfather trilogy is a good starting point. If you likes the Godfather for the plot, the structure, then you will easily be able to follow a play.

My aunt is about the most cultured person on the planet, proper going to operas for fun and refering to west end directors by the first name, she always reads the synopsis beforehand and maybe even some of the famous lines. She goes to see Shakespeare in French and Russian for fun but insists it’s always different.
Also if it sounds like a bum joke, it’s definitely a bum joke. 50% bum jokes.