Interpreting Shakespeare (Online)
Join Andrew Hilton and an actor from his company as they bring Hamlet to life during this online course.

Hamlet: Autumn 2024 (sold out)
Details | Description |
---|---|
When | Tuesday evenings, 7 pm to 9 pm |
Dates |
(8 meetings) 1 October to 26 November 2024 (no class 29 October) |
Where |
Online |
Tutor | Andrew Hilton, Founder of Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory (stf) |
Description |
Explore Hamlet with a leading Shakespeare director, using both theatrical and academic techniques of interpretation. The play is among the most famous in world theatre, and the leading role the most coveted by leading actors, but it presents many mysteries and alternative texts, and even provoked T.S.Eliot to declare it ‘an artistic failure’. Over eight Tuesday evenings Andrew will guide you through the play line by line, comparing its three main versions and attempting to answer the many questions it provokes. As in previous classes he will be joined by members of his company, Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory, to experiment with alternative interpretations of key passages. In advance of the first class you will be sent some preparatory reading, and suggestions as to which published text to bring to the class. Note that this is not an actors’ workshop but is conceived specifically for Shakespeare’s audience and readership. You will be invited to read out loud, but not required to do so. Andrew Hilton's Shakespeare productions at the Tobacco Factory were repeatedly praised in the national press for their clarity and intelligence. In 2014 he was awarded an Honorary D.Litt by the University of Bristol. This course follows highly successful courses on The Winter's Tale, As You Like It, Measure for Measure, Twelfth Night, Macbeth and King Lear. |
Course fee |
£180 |
Previous qualifications/experience | No qualifications needed. Open to the public. |
Booking for this course has now closed.
To register your interest in the next course, in academic year 2025/25, please click here.
What our students say...
Andrew Hilton's experience in the field has certainly enriched the learning experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and learnt so much as there was space and time for us to reflect, ask questions and delve deeply into the text line by line.
The Interpreting Shakespeare course has deepened my understanding of the texts and immeasurably increased my enjoyment of the performances.
Contacts
Please address any enquiries about the courses to:
Department of English Part-time Courses
School of Humanities
3-5 Woodland Road
Bristol BS8 1TB
Email: english-lifelong@bristol.ac.uk
Telephone: 0117 455 8271