Two dozen student performers manage to capture the raw energy and stark terror of the Shakespeare masterpiece like no adult production in recent memory.
THEATRE MIRROR
Review
WHAT THE PRESS SAY
…Fiercely intelligent performances. Every action counts and every speech is clear-spoken and clear of meaning.
THEATRE MIRROR
Review
I can only encourage the community to be aware of Project Shakespeare and the wonderful access provided to theatre education.
LEDGER TRANSCRIPT
Review
WHAT THE STUDENTS SAY
Project Shakespeare had a huge impact on my life.
This is a worthwhile program that gets students passionate about Shakespeare!
I would not be the person I am today without it.
SARA (LUSSIER) WILLIAMS
Student
Before meeting a director as passionate, caring, dimensional and so much else as you, I could have never started a hobby in acting.
Thank you for giving me the best hobby to love. And that is acting.
MARY REAGAN RIFFLE
Student
I learned to let myself become more comfortable with who I am.
DIANE SAKER
Student
Deborah definitely brings out the best in your acting.
She really pushes you to understand
the character and explore it fully.
IRENE GOULD
Student
This program always reminds me how important being part of an ensemble is in theatre.
EMILY GALEN
Student
We really went into depth about Shakespeare, his language and his theatre.
I loved how we all worked together to perform two plays in repertoire
and how the rehearsals were really serious and used to perfect the final performances.
NAFKOTE TAMIRAT
Student
I learned not just about the joy of acting, but about passion and commitment in general.
This program, along with its excellent director Deborah Thurber, has set me on the hopefully continuous path of learning from my mistakes and persevering even through the toughest of circumstances.
It has shown me that with enough determination, I can and will achieve my dreams.
HANNAH BUSH
Student
Deborah takes it to a whole new level.
JARED DUNCAN
Student
(PS) encourages me to take 'risks' to follow my dreams... The theatre world is now mine to explore.
CAILIN ENNIS
Student
I just wanted to say BRAVO!
It's so fun, and the kids are all wonderful!
JIM & REBECCA WEIDNER
PS Parents
WHAT THE PARENTS SAY
Thank you for providing such a wonderful experience for Sophie, and all the kids.
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Project Shakespeare really has changed Sophie's life, and John an I look forward to her being involved
with the group for years to come!
SHERRILL BURGESS
PS Parent
I think Deborah's greatest skill as a leader is helping the students fall in love with Shakespeare.
She inspires a love of Shakespeare's language, humor, and the theatre that the kids will treasure all their lives.
CARA BARLOW
PS Parent
Shakespeare is alive and kicking in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Even before its doors have opened,
the Park Theatre sponsored an outdoor performance of A Midsummer’s Night Dream performed by talented children, ages 6-18, hailing from several of our area’s schools. And if this first project is any indication of the quality of performance we are to expect from the Park Theatre, then the
Monadnock Region can look forward to its further development as the cultural center of New Hampshire.
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This rendition of A Midsummer’s Night Dream was fresh and witty. I’ve taught play over a dozen times and have seen many professional performances of it, yet what I saw last weekend on the lawn of the Jaffrey Civic Center rivals the best. Most importantly, the wonderful cast dispelled the misconception that Shakespeare is difficult as their delivery was clear, making the meaning of every word in every line comprehensible and developing their humor by applying Shakespeare’s own advice of suiting “the word to the action, the action to the word.”
I personally walked away with new insight into the play due to the director’s, Deborah Thurber, very original approach.
This wonderful three-day show performed under the full moon in downtown Jaffrey enriched the lives of all who attended. We anxiously await the next production. Bravo to the actors! Thank you Project Shakespeare! Thank you Park Theatre!
MARJORIE MARGOLIS
English Teacher, Conant High School
The Jaffrey-Rindge Shakespeare Festival
(Founder)
WHAT OUR AUDIENCE SAY
Thank you for your presentation of As You Like It. The residents... Were absolutely astounded at how well your students performed.
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The lively and animated acting of the students is truly remarkable.
LINDA MCALLISTER
Langdon Place, Keene, NH
I loved Romeo & Juliet.
A magical performance.
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Was wonderful!!!
BETH HEALY
Director of Development, MOCO Arts, Keene
Excellent performance!
DENNY
Audience Member
Terrific actors & actresses!
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Thank you so much for your
Romeo & Juliet​​
We loved it.
EILEEN WOLLEY
Activity Director, Pheasant Wood, Peterborough, NH
Romeo & Juliet was fantastic!
What a gift you have brought into the community.
LINDA & ZAVEN GIRAGOSIAN
Jaffrey Audience Member
Performing in England was something I never could have dreamed of, and the whole experience felt seriously unreal, yet I was utterly present in every moment. I will remember every amazing detail of that trip.
KALI ZAFFRANN
Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet (2018)
I loved performing at the Dell theatre. It was similar to the Civic Center Lawn in Jaffrey, but the Bard himself was about 500 feet from us!
The people in England were so supportive and really appreciated Shakespeare’s work, which was wonderful for us to work off of!
All the actors got so close on the trip too – and the experience is something that we will remember for a
long time.
I am grateful to Project Shakespeare and my fellow actors for the wonderful experience.
GENNA WEIDNER
Horatio & Polonius in Hamlet (2014)
Performing at the Dell was amazing, just thinking of all of the actors that have performed there was awe-inspiring.
It was a once-in-a lifetime experience!
KAITLYNN SHEA
Osric in Hamlet (2014)
A dream come true!
ALEXA MURRAY
Gertrude in Hamlet (2014)
STUDENTS REFLECT ON PERFORMING IN ENGLAND
The trip to England was one of the best experiences of my life. I enjoyed every minute of it.
ARIANNA WENTWORTH
Friar Laurence & Tybalt
in Romeo and Juliet (2018)
Thank you so much for organising this trip to England!
We learned so much, and had a marvellous time! It was a great opportunity to see world-class Shakespearean actors performing the Bard's work in the setting he envisioned when he was writing.
It was fantastic to have the opportunity to enjoy an uncut production of Othello (at the Globe Theatre in London). The backstage tours were amazing and gave insight into the technical aspects of theatre at a professional level.
And how can words convey the experience of performing under the auspices of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and watching the audience GROW as passersby were first captured and then captivated by an unbelievable performance by the Project Shakespeare cast! Nor is it any easier to express the wonder of being able to perform in the very same space that Shakespeare himself would have performed his first plays as a schoolboy!
This trip was proof that the kindness, awareness, and empathy they gained through their work with Project Shakespeare will be carried with them beyond the stage to wherever their lives may take them.
Thank you so much for providing this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
MONICA & GALEN LANPHIER
PS Parent
I thought the England trip was extraordinary and the perfect way to help step up to the plate with our Hamlet performance.
The nervousness, anxiety, and excitement of the performance put the entire cast in gear to bring our Hamlet to a new level it had never been to before.
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Through this rush of 'acting adrenaline' I was discovering new choices, directions, and actions every day leading up to the performances. This trip was remarkable and I will surely remember it for the rest of my life.
RYAN HOIRIIS
Laertes in Hamlet (2014)
Having the opportunity to perform in the same town William Shakespeare lived in was a truly Incredible, though kind of overwhelming feeling. It was also extra special to have another spontaneous performance in the actual room Shakespeare went to school and saw his first play!
Touring the Royal Shakespeare Company’s theatres was absolutely another highlight! I loved seeing the stage, set, costumes, wigs, props, fake blood, etc, and seeing a professional a show while learning about the production behind it.
Then, in London, being inside the Globe Theatre was breathtaking and seeing Othello onstage that night was spectacular. I also really enjoyed the workshop we got from a professional actress.
Going to England overall was a spectacular trip! I learned so much and I am so grateful I was able to go.
GRACE RAMSDEN
Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (2018)
The trip to England was amazing. I feel so lucky that I could do something like this. I have never
been outside of North America before and though England isn't drastically different from the U.S. it is still a different country and culture.
Performing at the Dell was really fun. I was honored by all the people who came by to watch us and congratulate us on our performance. So many people came by to watch us rehearse for a while and wished us luck even if they couldn't come to the performance.
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It was thrilling to be surrounded by people who know about, appreciate,
and love Shakespeare so much.
I will never forget this.