Meet ASC’s Director of Learning & Engagement

From a Fenland Classroom to The Blackfriars Playhouse

My first memory of William Shakespeare’s works is not a good one, like so many others.

I remember being a child sitting at an old school desk, complete with names and hearts carved into it, with a faded, torn book covered in obscure notes, sometimes obscene doodles and graffiti. The words were the point, but far less interesting or funny than the doodles.

The teacher at the front of the class was pointing to terrified classmates, trying to sink into their seats, and assigning strange names. Once we were chosen, we were doomed to stumble aloud through words that we couldn’t pronounce, didn’t understand, and were crushed under the embarrassment of not knowing what we were reading and why.

This was my introduction to Shakespeare and to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I knew on that day that I would never be ‘smart’ enough to ‘get’ this. Shakespeare had nothing to do with me, and were it not on the curriculum, both the teacher and I would happily have not suffered it.

This was around 1989, in a working-class, post-industrial town in the middle of the fenlands of the East of England. This was a time and place where there were still large green chalkboards, teachers who still fondly missed corporal punishment, and careers advisers that would comfort students with statements such as ‘don’t worry about the test, you don’t need that for X’

My relationship with Shakespeare, or even the joy of learning, wasn’t looking good.

Then, something quite unexpected happened, thanks to an incredible theatre director and educator named Derek Killeen, who came to our small town in 1990 to take over our moribund 300-seat receiving house.

From day one, through his open invite, Derek declared his top priorities were access, learning, and the next generation of artists, revolutionary in 1990. Derek not only opened the doors but permanently unlocked a building and an entire industry for over 100 young people in that first year. 

The work Derek introduced us to? Shakespeare!…retold, reframed, fun, active, ‘on its feet’ with music, costumes, rehearsal rooms, exploration, debate, experimentation, and with joyful, safe,  and often hilarious failure. He led the kind of rooms that put the characters within our reach, and suddenly the lights went on.

From Peterborough and the fenlands of England, via London, Chichester, Birmingham, New York City, and now Staunton, Virginia, those practices and that invitation have stayed with me and informed all of my work ever since.

At the end of July, I joined the American Shakespeare Center, and immediately felt a great but unexpected sense of homecoming. The invitation to engage, to ask, and to explore at every level takes me back to those rehearsal rooms from 36 years ago.

Just like Derek’s workshops, the ASC is a place wherein the humanity and curiosity of the performer, academic, reader, student, and ‘learners’ of all kinds are central. I find I have joined a company where the words are alive, are debated, are spoken aloud in shared light by human beings, both professionals and newcomers, where the characters and players are given room to tell their stories, and where the enthusiasm of the explorer is valued no matter what stage they are on in their journey.

Today I find myself looking ahead at the coming years and imagining how best to bring my practice to this organization. I am excited to be identifying those that we are not engaging, seeking refinement, reimagining, and broadening our understanding of what constitutes a learning experience, or a meaningful engagement.

Here at the ASC, it is a joy and a privilege to be part of a mission that seeks to imagine and to work to ensure that the invitation is open, that no one be left to miss out on this kaleidoscopic work, and this author of humanity.

I will be discussing the educational work of the American Shakespeare Center at our Lights On Blackfriars event on Saturday, September 12th, at 11:00am. Also, the following week. September 19th is our 25th anniversary event, which I would really enjoy meeting you at. 

For educators, I especially look forward to welcoming you to the Blackfriars Playhouse for school matinees, workshops, and tours! 

“The most convenient place that I can think of

For such receipt of learning is Blackfriars.”

— Henry VIII, Act 2, Scene 2