Impressions of Lakeside School Students from 2010:

 

"After reading so much Shakespeare in school, seeing exquisitely staged productions of Shakespeare’s plays was fantastic. The Royal Shakespeare Company focuses on such an entirely different side of Shakespeare than we usually do in class: therefore, it was lovely to hear such different production based analysis. I enjoyed the trip we had very much, and can honestly say that no lecture or activity felt meaningless to me."
Sophie

 

"I think this trip was great for me because it was academic without being stiff. The goal of the trip — to learn about Shakespeare’s plays in context — was addressed in a variety of ways, and we got to see all of the sides of a Shakespeare play by reading it, discussing it, and then watching it. In discussing the plays on and off the stage, and in learning about Shakespeare’s history on and off the stage, I think each play becomes more three-dimensional. Once one understands the history of a piece, there is more to dissect and to pick apart. All of the lectures were informative and engaging."
Alicea

 

Lakeside students

 

"When jets of fire erupted around a thrashing, bound Benvolio, the air around my face felt as though it would melt with heat. His fear was so real, his doom so impending that for a moment I forgot the storyline of the play—he was really going to burn. I was so captivated by the RSC’s production of Romeo and Juliet that I found myself constantly leaning further towards the stage, even when blades seemingly clashed a dangerously short distance away. To have such great seats for such an engaging and electrifying performance was fantastic, and one of my most powerful experiences in a theater. Seeing this show was one of my highlights of the trip, along with our session with the voice coach."
Ben

 

"Each of those classes and lectures and plays that we watched and took part in amazed me. I was never bored; never anything less than enthralled. I cannot think readily of a single thing to change about the trip."
Lucia

 

"One of the best things about this trip was that I was finally able to see why Shakespeare is held in such a high esteem. This was due in most part to seeing a play live and in front of me. Before, I had only seen Shakespeare in movies, and then only scarcely, but now I was actually able to see Shakespeare and it was incredible. I also learned more about acting through the interactive sessions we had with Kelly Hunter, the wig maker, and the voice coach. I enjoyed these activities because I was able to see what went into making these performances go on, giving me a deeper understanding of what it takes to create the magic of Shakespeare. Overall, this trip allowed me to learn a lot and to reach some of my class goals, as I was finally able to see what makes Shakespeare a genius and what makes his plays so dramatic, entertaining, and pertinent to the human condition."
Dan

 

Lakeside students

 

 

"Dr. Walton was a fantastic speaker, the information was also very intriguing. Learning about and analyzing the plays that we were going to see was helpful, especially for King Lear and Morte D’ Arthur. Never while in class, in fact, never at any point during the entire trip, was I bored and not learning anything. Visiting Stratford-upon-Avon was a magnificent experience. Seeing plays and learning about Shakespeare and his life as a playwright and also as a normal, everyday person was fascinating. Every place we visited had something to offer. Mary Arden’s farm –the first place we visited –was one of my favorites. It had all the historical bits and pieces, but also had other things to see and learn about. Shakespeare’s birthplace was also very fascinating, although we were a little rushed and may not have gotten to enjoy looking at absolutely everything. Another highlight was Nash’s house, my favorite part of which was the garden and all the statues that were representations of different Shakespeare plays."
Mickey

 

"The 2010 Stratford-upon-Avon lectures were insightful, classes were interesting, discussions were engaging, and the plays were brilliant. I am walking away from this trip with a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s work. Before travelling to Stratford, Shakespeare’s work, while enjoyable and beautiful, seemed foreign and complex to me. I spent most of my time unlocking the language rather than feeling the emotional arcs Shakespeare created. In Stratford, I discovered that Shakespeare’s work is dynamic, emotional and physical. These discoveries allow me to experience Shakespeare’s work in a far more complete way."
Maile

 

"Overall, the trip was a blast, and I would recommend others to take it in the future, as long as they have some interest in Shakespeare. There wasn’t really anything I’d change about the trip: there was a good balance of taking the course, watching the plays, and free time. If there was a way to eliminate jet lag, I’d certainly recommend that, but the trip was still fantastic."
Liam

 

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