The Paper Stage is an Early Modern Drama reading group, but what does that mean? Simply put, it is an informal group of people who enjoy Elizabethan and Jacobian plays, that get together to read them aloud.
The idea behind the group is to see if the impact and meaning of the plays of the late 16th and early 17th centuries can be experienced without the embellishments of sets, special effects, costumes and actors. Although the last item on the list may seem a necessity, the distinction is that, those who choose to take part in the Paper Stage are readers, not actors. There is no need for any previous drama experience; no prior knowledge of the play is expected, all that is required is the ability to read out loud.
So how do the people who attend benefit from the Paper Stage? Firstly, it is great fun taking part in a group activity, sharing in a common interest. It is certainly better than trying to read a whole play on your own. Secondly, hearing other people read parts helps with understanding the pace, direction and meaning of any play. There have been many times, when even people who know a specific play well, have found that a reading has helped them to make an observation about the play they had never made before. Finally, the Paper Stage is a social event, allowing people from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of experiences to meet. That mix of experience and knowledge makes the Paper Stage a unique and exciting way to discover and explore the wealth of wonderful dramas from the Early Modern period.
Come along to see what we’re all about.
Mondays, 18:00-21:00 in Keynes Seminar Room 15
Refreshments Provided
- 24th September, Kyd, The Spanish Tragedy
- 1st October, Dekker, The Shoemaker’s Holiday
- 8th October, Marlowe, Edward II
- 15th October, Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus
- 22nd October, Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
- 5th November, Shakespeare, Macbeth
- 12th November, Jonson, The Alchemist
- 19th November, Middleton, Chaste Maid in Cheapside
- 26th November, Shakespeare, Measure for Measure
- 3rd December, John Ford, ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore