Vision and Mission
Founded in May of 2009, Spontaneous Shakespeare Players is a group of professional independent theatre artists who bring the spontaneity and fun of Shakespeare's plays to modern audiences. By using Elizabethan performance techniques, which involve limited to no rehearsal and the ability to instantly bring the Bard's words to physical and entertaining heights, we give our audiences a historical taste of how Shakespeare's plays would have originally been performed.
In Shakespeare's day, the theatre was the premier venue in entertainment--much like today's IMAX, Wiis, and reality television--and his plays possessed a competitive edge that made them popular among yesteryear's audiences. That electricity is sadly often lost in modern performance. The Spontaneous Shakespeare Players, however, strive to not only present these great works of art with historical authenticity but also to entertain audiences with the same moment-to-moment vivacity that wowed Elizabethan and Jacobean groundlings and monarchs alike, so long ago.
Shakespeare's plays were called plays because they were about playing not acting, and our performances bring Shakespeare's plays alive in a way that connects people of all age groups and walks of life. Shakespeare plays are timeless for a reason and we, Spontaneous Shakespeare Players, focus on the text, play only the text, and play hard to make what was new in olden times new again.
In Shakespeare's day, the theatre was the premier venue in entertainment--much like today's IMAX, Wiis, and reality television--and his plays possessed a competitive edge that made them popular among yesteryear's audiences. That electricity is sadly often lost in modern performance. The Spontaneous Shakespeare Players, however, strive to not only present these great works of art with historical authenticity but also to entertain audiences with the same moment-to-moment vivacity that wowed Elizabethan and Jacobean groundlings and monarchs alike, so long ago.
Shakespeare's plays were called plays because they were about playing not acting, and our performances bring Shakespeare's plays alive in a way that connects people of all age groups and walks of life. Shakespeare plays are timeless for a reason and we, Spontaneous Shakespeare Players, focus on the text, play only the text, and play hard to make what was new in olden times new again.
What We Do
Spontaneous Shakespeare Players perform free Shakespeare plays in New York City's Central Park, bringing the passion of the Bard to the masses. In addition to our free performances, we can be booked to perform in a variety of venues. Since we perform without a set, our seasoned company of players are able to perform easily in any setting--be it natural, commercial, or educational.
Many of our company members are teaching artists as well as actors and are available to teach workshops that delineate the Elizabethan performance techniques that we utilize to make playing Shakespeare so much fun!
For booking inquiries, please visit our contact page.
Many of our company members are teaching artists as well as actors and are available to teach workshops that delineate the Elizabethan performance techniques that we utilize to make playing Shakespeare so much fun!
For booking inquiries, please visit our contact page.
