As part of their 75th anniversary celebrations Manx Amateur Drama Federation (MADF) is delighted to announce its ‘Mastering Shakespeare’ initiative, funded as part of the Isle of Man Arts Council's Extraordinary Events Fund. This initiative will promote a wider participation in and enjoyment of classic theatre across the Island. The purpose of the ‘Mastering Shakespeare’ initiative is to bring to life Shakespeare’s work and inspire the next generation of theatre creatives to sustain the legacy of theatre on the Island. We are delighted to be able to do this through the support of IOM Arts Council and their ‘Extraordinary Events’ funding. The initiative is curated by Shakespeare practitioner Edward Bennett and will be run through a series of workshops in February 2025. These sessions are open to all GCSE and A level English Literature students and will cover:
- Ability to explore complex characters and universal themes such as jealousy, friendship and consequences.
- Ability to recognise the enduring relevance of Shakespearean themes in their own lives and contemporary society
- Fostering critical thinking to draw connections between past and present
MADF are also staging a production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in September 2025, the production will be staged in the gardens of Government House, in Douglas, by kind permission of His Excellency, Sir John Lorimer. And to support those wishing to be involved in the production, an additional weekend workshop will be held, open to all, to focus on character development.
Following these workshops attendees will be encouraged to participate in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ - this will be open to anyone in any creative aspect both onstage or behind the scenes. Edward will continue to support the cast through the summer of 2025 with regards to character development and the production team in the creative aspects of the play. This will be delivered through a series of 4 weekend visits, building on the initial workshops and aid cast members’ understanding of the text. Engaging an external, professional practitioner brings a fresh perspective to performing theatre in the Island - all will benefit from his extensive experience. These visits will build on the foundations laid in the February workshops.
Edward has been recommended to MADF by the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has worked extensively with Creative Counties West Sussex (Board Member) and the Chichester Festival. He is also an experienced actor appearing in several seasons at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and a range of Film and Television work, view his filmography on IMDb
Edward’s supporting practitioners for the workshops are Phoebe Hyder and Luke Osbourne who work with him at the Chichester Festival.
For more information and for updates relating to the workshops and auditions, visit the MADF website
