King Chair community workshop to focus on ‘Othello,’ ‘othering’
Shakespeare’s “Othello” and the concept of “othering” is the focus of a free, public workshop Nov. 6 at the University of Maine.
“Others, Othering, and ‘Othello,’” sponsored by the Stephen E. King Chair in Literature, will be held 5:30–7:30 p.m. in the Al Cyrus Pavilion Theatre.
In this performance-based workshop, participants will explore the characters of “Othello,” and the ways in which they “other” one another. How do race, gender, religion and class function in the play, and what can be learned by exploring scenes from one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies?
Participants will dig into the meaning of the text by considering its metrical and rhetorical components, then move out to the broader context of performing “Othello” in today’s environs. No need to read anything in advance — just come ready to play and to be played to. Due to the mature subject matter of the play, this workshop is not recommended for children younger than 14.
Sarah Enloe and Cordell Cole will lead the workshop.
Enloe is director of education at the American Shakespeare Center (ASC) in Staunton, Virginia, home to the world’s only re-creation of the Blackfriars Playhouse, the indoor theatre in which Shakespeare and his company performed. She was named teacher of the year in Texas and continues to impact learners, teachers and communities through her position at the ASC. Its mission is to recover the joys and accessibility of Shakespeare’s theatre, language and humanity by exploring the English Renaissance stage and its practices through performance and education.
Cole earned a bachelor’s in fine arts in acting from the Gainesville Theatre Alliance at Brenau University. He has performed all over the country, including at the Texas Shakespeare Festival, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Georgia Shakespeare, the American Players Theater, and the ASC.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Caroline Bicks at caroline.bicks@maine.edu, 207.581.3819.
More about the workshop and Stephen E. King Chair Lecture Series is online.