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

Director

Mel Stuart

Producer

Mel Stuart

Cinematographer

Alex Rotaru

Contributor

Ian McKellen; Michael York; Rafe Esquith

Cast

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

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

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.

Shakespeare, "Hobart Shakespeareans, The". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av37724 (Accessed 26 Nov 2024)

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