I am not principally teaching Shakespearean poetry. I am teaching people to think through language. When acting or playing, I invent, language. I colour words with thought. I constantly argue with myself. A student reading Shakespeare silently may see a succession of difficult sentences. A student hearing an actor discover the necessity of each succeeding thought encounters something entirely different. Language becomes action. An argument is not a collection of beautifully pronounced words; it is a succession of decisions. One thought challenges another. An objection appears. A new possibility is considered. The speaker changes direction, and the student realizes he can hear the thoughts behind the words, can produce such sounds with his own brain and voice. The texts are cut and formatted for this purpose, to mentally, vocally and even emotionally explore, essential arguments. In playing all the parts of the audio-plays, I seek mental, emotional and vocal clarity and consistency.

Establishing connections between thought and speech are the educational proposition behind Shakespeare Out Loud.

The teacher must become a good listener. His/her job is to shape the thoughts that invent Shakespeare’s language, to clarify thoughts that cause the language. A teacher does not plan a SOL class, rather they react to whatever the students bring to the class. That requires scheduling and courage. Directors do the same with professional actors everyday. The world-class ones that I have worked with have all been great listeners. Listening is the teacher primary teaching tool. Shape oral performances with suggestions for thoughts.

Much of Shakespeare’s writing is opaque. Why characters say or do certain things, why characters react in certain ways, why things happen in the play, is often unclear, even opaque. The honest wrestling with complexity then becomes the truth. Don’t try to simplify it, live with it! That becomes interesting acting and what Shakespeare always intended.

I now announce a new stage in the life of Shakespeare Out Loud — an educational initiative that deliberately removes financial barriers, because the ability to speak and think clearly matters more than ever. The plays, guides and audio recordings are now free for the teachers and students of individual schools. Any donations to support these resources are much appreciated. Public performances royalties continue to apply.