So, the creators of Good Tickle Brain (click header for the link to their comic) decided to combine current events with the Ides of March theme. I'll stick with Shakespeare. 

As per usual, I'll read the play first...while also listening to the Arkangel Shakespeare production, then look to a couple of performances to see different takes on the play. 

I've got another Donmar Warehouse production lined up for this, as well as Greg Doran's production for the RSC. I may also look into Paterson Joseph's book about playing Brutus in Doran's production. 

Anyway, I hope you are all having a lovely Sunday.

I found Hamlet rather difficult to follow. Few stage directions meant I couldn’t tell what the characters were supposed to be doing physically and all nuance of emotion was lost. (Earnest words or sarcasm? Genuine cruelty or pushing someone away for their own good?) About halfway through I decided to watch the BBC’s 1980 adaptation starring Patrick Stewart and Derek Jacobi on YouTube while reading at the same time. 

^{Derek Jacobi looking rather old for a teenage Hamlet}

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For Project Shakespeare I figured I would need plenty of notes to understand the text from a reliable source. To keep costs down I looked at buying a complete works. Two editions were available: one produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Norton Shakespeare. Since there were no previews for either edition, I went by popularity. The former won the battle for my cash.

^{Click image to enlarge}

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Aim: To read as much Shakespeare as I can handle.

Previous Experience:

For my SATs (age 12-14) we studied Romeo and Juliet and though we watched a few adaptations, Romeo + Juliet starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes is the one which stuck.Gnomeo and Juliet was a good introduction for smaller children.

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As it’s the beginning of the academic year, I’ve been looking at free online courses and educational resources for readers, writers, gamers and web surfers (mostly on online security).

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