The Placement Diaries: Part 1

I’m one month in and loving my placement at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. I’m spending one day per week at the SBT as a Research Advocate (see this post to find out more about the placement), and it’s already proving a really exciting experience! Read on for week-by-week details of what I’ve been up to so far, and…

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Getting Started with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Last week, I started a placement with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. For one day per week over the next three months, I’ll be collaborating with the SBT as a Research Advocate. My task is to work with items featuring in the Trust’s Collections, and to think about what opportunities they pose for future research projects.…

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The Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy @ Kings Cross Theatre, London

As weekends go, this last one was pretty Shakespeare-heavy. Saturday involved a 6:30am start, an early train to London, and many hours spent in the auditorium of the Donmar’s temporary Kings Cross Theatre. I was a YOUNG+FREE ticket-holder for the company’s first Shakespeare Trilogy performance, and I was ready for some serious Shakespeare. Three plays in a single day,…

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My PhD: The First Fortnight

I’ve now been a PhD student at the Shakespeare Institute for two whole weeks. It’s gone so quickly; every day has had something new and exciting to keep me busy. Here’s a little insight into what I’ve been up to so far… Welcome events at the Institute At the Institute, we know how to kick…

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Romeo and Juliet: Live-Streamed from the Garrick Theatre, London

Last night, I went to see the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s (KBTC) live-streamed production of Romeo and Juliet at my local cinema. I enjoyed it. Lily James made a great Juliet, the action was freshened up by new interpretations of all-too familiar scenes (e.g. balcony scene + alcohol = funnies), and the influence of film noir made…

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The British Graduate Shakespeare Conference

Originally posted on Princeps:
My name is Ella Hawkins, and I’m currently completing an MA in Shakespeare and Theatre at the University of Birmingham’s Shakespeare Institute. During the course of my studies, I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved with one of the most important events in the Shakespeare and Renaissance scholarship calendar: I was…

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‘The Winter’s Tale’ Ballet @ the Royal Opera House

It’s been a pretty crazy few weeks. Since I last posted here, I’ve met my Midlands3Cities PhD cohort at a two-day welcome event in Nottingham, crammed my face with cream teas in the coffee shops of Cornwall, and chaired an international conference at the Shakespeare Institute. There’s been so much to blog about, but no…

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Shakespeare’s Birthday, Stratford-Style

Saturday 23 April was a pretty important date in the Shakespearean calendar. Not only was it Shakespeare’s birthday AND deathday, but it was the 400th anniversary of the latter occasion. So, naturally, Shakespeareans from around the world travelled to Stratford-upon-Avon and took to the streets to celebrate with the help of various famous people and…

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Happy PhD Bunny

I’m a happy bunny. A happy, happy bunny that’s metaphorically frolicking through fields of joy and wonderment, surrounded by rainbows and unicorns and lots of other happy things. I’m a happy bunny because I GOT FUNDING TO DO A PHD AT THE SHAKESPEARE INSTITUTE! YAAAAAAAAAY! As you might be able to ascertain, I’m a tad…

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