This England
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, This England
Follow the Robinson Shakespeare Company on the journey of a lifetime to perform in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Overture
How a Notre Dame community center's inspired young actors and their inspiring director turned a passion for Shakespeare and a commitment to each other into an opportunity to perform in the birthplace of the Bard.
Without Further Ado
After months of preparation and anticipation, the Robinson Shakespeare Company travels to England to perform Cymbeline and explore Shakespearean history in Stratford-upon-Avon and London.
The Ensemble
Meet the members of the Robinson Shakespeare Company
They range in age from 12 to 18. They come from different schools and different backgrounds, with different talents and different motivations. The individuals who form the collective soul of the Robinson Shakespeare Company have their own personal tales to tell. Participating in the company's annual plays, some for so many years that they can’t remember their lives without Shakespeare, has helped make them who they are. In turn, they have made significant contributions to the growth of the group now preparing for an international showcase. These are some of their stories.
The Process
Behind the scenes from the page to the stage
They begin in the winter, reading from thick scripts, the Elizabethan English like a foreign language, their characters strangers to them. Guided by director Christy Burgess, the 6th through 12th graders of the Robinson Shakespeare Company hone a production of Cymbeline over weeks of rehearsals for two spring performances at Notre Dame with an eye toward their summer trip to England. Before the call of places on opening night, the cast members not only memorize lines but internalize their roles to give new life to an old story. This is how they do it.
