Attending a talk at Hall’s Croft allowed us to engage with Measure for Measure from a unique perspective, considering how it might affect us as audience members, in both our time and Shakespeare’s. With its unconventional blend of comedy and tragedy, the play gives audience members the autonomy to decide their own interpretation of the ending, especially whether the marriage trope typical of Shakespeare’s comedies is truly fulfilled here. 

We then took a short walk over to Shakespeare’s birthplace on Henley Street. With the house furnished as it would have been in Shakespeare’s youth, it was not hard to imagine how he would have lived there amongst his family. A particular highlight was seeing his father’s glove making workshop, where we got to see and try on prototypes of gloves that would have been popular during his time!

During the afternoon, we saw a production of Measure for Measure at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. I thought the choice of moving the play into a modern context was intriguing, drawing the focus of the drama to the speculation of politicians’ inner lives in our society. The clinical nature of the set, with its metallic and claustrophobic walls enhanced this, and the clever incorporation of scenes from Othello heightened the tension of the play even further. We were all shocked by the subversive use of Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love with You at the turning point of the play, being so impactful that we’re sure to be reminded of Measure for Measure when listening to it in the future!

All in all, this production certainly amazed the very faculties of our eyes and ears – reminding us of how Shakespeare’s stage stretches beyond his lifetime, and continues to reveal unchanging truths about the human condition in our world today.

By Joy, Year 13