By Joshua Dermer
All the world’s a stage for teacher Nina Duval’s senior English classes as they study William Shakespeare’s famed plays through performance, bringing forward a new level of understanding for the playwright’s complex literature.
“I don’t believe Shakespeare wrote plays for students and teenagers of the 21st century to sit at a desk with a book in front of them and try to understand,” Duval explained. “Shakespeare would have been horrified.”
The class divides into different acting companies and performs the play. Each company has its own scene to contribute to the overall story. “It’s not acting per say,” said Duval, “but I give them little tips as we go along”
“If you were just to read it you wouldn’t understand what’s going on,” senior Marielly Sanchez said. “Too much is happening, stories are overlapping, and characters are changing dramatically.”
Now that Duval has moved into the new black box theater, she has decided to exclusively teach Shakespeare to her Honors English IV. Focusing on Henry IV Part 1, O hello, and Midsummer Night’s Dream, the curriculum covers history, tragedy, and romantic comedy.
“It’s more hands on then just reading from a textbook and answering questions,” said Sanchez, who plays Prince Hal in Henry IV. “You don’t learn something unless you do it.”
Many students feel overwhelmed by the naked literature. Duval explains that teaching through performance helps the students learn without the busy desk work, although they are required to complete analytical and literary essays.
“The way she teaches the class allows us to incorporate our own creativity,” said senior Hanna De Leon. “I’ve read Shakespeare in the past and have completed questions but I didn’t really understand it as well as this time.”
According to Duval, the performance method will continue for the remainder of the year. “The more I do it, the more I like it,” she said, “and the more I learn, too.”
