SHAKESPEARE

Alternative title

Shakespeare in Canada

Synopsis

Examines the history of Shakespeare presentations in Canada with special reference to those produced at the Stratford Theatre, Stratford, Ontario (3 mins).

An excerpt from a recorded performance, by a
Canadian high-school company, of Julius Caesar (7 mins)

A talk, given by Prof. Werners Jackson, McMaster
University, at the World Shakespeare Congress in Vancouver, on the problems and potentials of staging Shakespeare’s plays on the ‘thrust stage’ at the Stratford Theatre, Stratford, Ontario. The stage, he says is excellent in that its form supports movement of the actors and requires little scenery (3 mins). Michael Boughtry, Assistant to the Artistic
Director of the Stratford Theatre, is interviewed in
Vancouver, at the World Shakespeare Congress, by Joan Coldwell. He also talks about the Stratford Theatre, saying that its unusual ‘thrust-stage’ dictates much of the action in a play, making Stratford performances unique. The actors are allowed a fair amount of intimacy with a large (two-thousand) audience, because the stage front is surrounded by that audience and the extra ramps allow the freely-moving actors a total of five exits, not just the normal two. He regrets that there is, however, frequently too much emphasis on form and movement, and not enough on content (21 mins). Joan Coldwell, Professor of English, University of Victoria, talks about Shakespeare as a literary source for Canadian writers. Recorded samples from the works of Charles Mair,
Margaret Laurence, Hugh MacLennan and Irving Layton are played to demonstrate different ways in which Shakespeare’s writing serves as inspiration to modern authors (18 mins).

Recorded samples from the works of Charles Mair,
Margaret Laurence, Hugh MacLennan and Irving Layton, are played to demonstrate different ways in which Shakespeare’s writing serves as inspiration to modern authors. (37:00)(18 mins).

Series

Ideas

Language

English

Country

Canada

Medium

Radio

Transmission details

4 Feb 1972 at 19:00 (Channel: CBC-FM)

Duration

60 mins

Credits

Producer

Bernie Lucht

Contributor

Joan Coldwell; Michael Boughtry; Werners Jackson

Cast

Charles Mair
Hugh MacLennan
Irving Layton
Margaret Laurence

Additional Details

Production type

Documentary/Educational/News

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Canada; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); stage design; Stratford (Ontario) Shakespeare Festival; School productions

Notes

History

The programme was originally scheduled for broadcast on 3rd February and then re-scheduled because of a NABET strike.

Production Company

Name

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Archive

Name

CBC Broadcasting Centre Archives

Address

205 Wellington Street West
Toronto
Ontario
Canada MSV 3G7