Shakespeare in the Courts
Shakespeare & Company

Shakespeare in the Courts brings the classical poetry and plays of Shakespeare into the lives of adjudicated youth in ways that are theatrically compelling, educationally inspiring, and personally meaningful. Participating youth are brought into a Renaissance world of beautiful language, profound thought, and passionate feeling that articulates and celebrates the full spectrum of human experience. They learn about Shakespeare’s plays and what it takes to put them on stage, while being challenged to relate his plays to their own lives.

All Shakespeare in the Courts’ participants are adjudicated juvenile offenders, ages 13–17, whose Berkshire Juvenile Court judge sentences them to the program. They attend two 12-week sessions, with 2-hour classes twice a week. Those who wish to continue the program attend a 4-week follow-up session.

Shakespeare & Company’s teacher artists use Shakespeare’s text to guide participants through a process of self-discovery. The artists pose questions to the youth about their choices as actors in a scene. The teens translate that process to their life choices and learn about the power they can exert over their own lives.

The program trains the youth in acting, vocal work, and text analysis, but relies on substantial input from the participants to shape its essential content. At the conclusion, the teens perform short scenes from Shakespeare to an audience comprised of the judge and their probation officers; families and friends; and the actors, teachers, and directors from Shakespeare & Company.