Does your child like Shakespeare? What did you do, and at what age, to inspire this?

[PadDad]

Do you take them to see Shakespeare plays? Read them the stories? Are there companies that do Shakespeare for kids?

Is this a joke? (no offence, but if you yourself are interested in Shakespeare, then I would have thought you might have had a few ideas yourself)

If not a joke, then I did happen to see, in passing, a book of Shakespeare stories in Borders, in the "Classic children's books" section.

Take them to the Globe theatre? They do a tour, I believe

Animated Tales are brill. Out of print these days I think, but ebay/Youtube should have them.

Not younger than 8, I think. And then be selective. (blood and death over romance and comedies evey time for younger audiences)

Screamingabdab, "Is this a joke? (no offence, but if you yourself are interested in Shakespeare, then I would have thought you might have had a few ideas yourself)"

Why would this be a joke?

I am interested in parenting, too. And yes, I have a few ideas about that, too, but would you believe I'm also interested in other people's take on the subject?

Thanks sassy.

Yes, my DS (14) likes Shakespeare. He's grown up from a young age with DH telling him how fantastic Macbeth was, and how much he'd enjoy it when he read it at school.

Unfortunately, they're doing The Merchant of Venice at school, but their English teacher is making it come alive.

In the meantime, I bought him the graphic novel of Macbeth. Everyone my age (40) did Macbeth at school, so whenever any friends come round, they love the graphic novel. I've given 3 away already, and DS is on his fourth.

I also took him to see Romeo and Juliet a year or so ago too.

I am not a Shakespeare fan, but I have kept my opinions to myself.

I meant to say that there are graphic novels of more Shakespeare plays. You can get them from Amazon or Borders. I think they're a great way to get boys interested in Shakespeare.

Are there any travelling companies in your area who put on plays outside at historic sites in the summer? There used to be a great one, called the Welsh Actors Company I think, who visited our local ruined castle every year when I lived in Wales. I first took my dd to watch Macbeth when she was about 8 - she loved it, I don't know how much she understood, but the atmosphere was great. But definitely take them somewhere to see the plays performed properly by professional actors before they have to read them in school and get turned off forever. (They're plays ffs - you're supposed to watch them - reading a script is sooo boring).

Shakespeare4kidz to tours and workshops. Don't know if that's any use to you.

PadDad Sorry, don't know what came over me. Very rude Sorry.

Thanks screamingabdab. Annoyed me for a bit, but I'm over it!

Thanks all of you for input. Very interested in the Shakespeare4kids website. My toddler's too little right now but I like thinking about future things I'll be doing with her.

Theatre trips are right up there -- when they're done well. One of my favourite things is walking out of BAD Shakespeare productions! It's such a sense of release.

Thanks!

For some reason I thought you might be a troll, taking the pee out of middle-clas MNers.( Clearly I have been hanging about on Am I Being Unreasonable too much )

I like Shakespeare myself!

The Globe Theatre is really interesting, though I have not been since DCs

Screamingabdab, does that mean you are one of these?

I honestly wasn't thinking of you when I started that other thread this morning (I was annoyed about a thread unconnected to either of us), but it does seem to fit. Maybe it was subconscious on my part.

PadDad I have just seen the other thread. It's really ironic (perhaps you won't believe me..., but I also get irritated by people calling troll, just because the person doesn't seem to share the views of the majority, or they can't spell, or it's an unusual problem).

I believe I have been "hoist by my own petard"

Can we just forget it now. I've apologised, I've never done it before, and in general I like to be a helpful (and hopefully amusing) MNer

No problem. The other thread really wasn't about you, I promise.

O.K.