Shakespeare Studies
| Group Organiser | Maggie Palmer |
| Venue | Menber House |
| Meeting Days | Forthnghtly Tuesday (pm) |
| Group Vacancies? | Yes |
William Shakespeare a writer, a man for all seasons and all ages. Ben Johnson said "He was not of an age, but for all time".
From the First Folio Shakespeare preface, John Heming and Henry Condell wrote: "His mind and hand went together: and what he thought ,he uttered with that easiness that we have scarce received him a blot."
- John Dryden wrote: "Shakespeare is the very Janus of poets; he wears almost everywhere two faces; and you have scarce begun to admire the one, ere you despise the other."
- John Aubrey wrote: "His comedies will remain with us as long as the English tongue is understood, for that he handles the ways of men."
- Samuel Johnson wrote: "Shakespeare has united the powers of exciting laughter and sorrow not only in one mind but in one composition."
- George the third loved Shakespeare too; was there ever such stuff as great as part of Shakespeare?
- D.H. Lawrence wrote: "When l read Shakespeare,l am struck with wonder that such trivial people should muse and thunder in such lovely language"
- Richard Eyre wrote; "There is a sense in which every writer in English owes a debt to Shakespeare. He is our theatrical DNA"
Lawrence Olivier spoke of Shakespeare as being the nearest thing to incarnation to the eye of God. We of the Shakespeare group agree that we are fascinated by his words and have learned to love his plays, his poetry and sonnets, his uniqueness and capacity to present his words in such a way as to be understood and loved for generations and translated into many languages.
Our own Globe Theatre on the Banks of the river Thames in London has spawned many other Globes in countries all over the world, whose translations may differ slightly from the originals in performance, but still present the essence and meanings that are everlasting!
We are now number thirteen in our group and meet every fortnight on Tuesday afternoons to read and discuss the Bard's works. I feel sure that everyone feels the same as I do - that they have learned to appreciate and love this playwright more with every meeting !
For further information please contact Maggie Palmer