Globe Theatre warns audiences about Romeo and Juliet

It sounds like its a more modern and graphic performance...I am sure that people know the story but may not wish to see a graphic version

Oh dear!

Sounds like a flier for Game of Thrones .

Oh dear! Nothing like the home life of our own dear Queen.

I think that is really cool. It's a bit tongue in cheek bringing Shakespeare in line with modern soaps as they often finish with that sort of announcement. If he is the writer of his plays and was alive today he would be a bit like Phil Redmond! I have always been a Baconite myself though!!

Googled and you can buy the tea towel!

I hope to goodness they never stage Titus Andronicus!!

He would be Hammer Horrors and his plays would be banned!
Titus Andronicus, no happy ending and much blood.

Crossed posts, Greyduster.

Greyduster

I hope to goodness they never stage Titus Andronicus!!

It’s been staged, and there is a film you could watch……I wouldn’t.

I’ve never seen A Winter’s Tale, so I’d be curious to see how they cope with the famous stage direction, “Exit, pursued by a bear”, seen bottom right on this poster.

Grandma70s

Greyduster

I hope to goodness they never stage Titus Andronicus!!

It’s been staged, and there is a film you could watch……I wouldn’t.

I’ve never seen A Winter’s Tale, so I’d be curious to see how they cope with the famous stage direction, “Exit, pursued by a bear”, seen bottom right on this poster.

“ Warning-any bears or members of the audience identifying as bears in the audience should be aware that we are not anti- bear and recognise their ursine rights to pursue members of the cast stage right or indeed stage left”

???

I have slightly mixed feelings about this. I don’t know the full story of the content warnings for this version of R&J, but as a general principle I think they are over-used and pander to what can seem like a desire for everyone to be ‘protected’ against everything.

The theatre is supposed to stretch us - it was founded on notions of catharsis, so audiences could live through the adventures of the characters and ‘purge themselves’ of often difficult or violent emotions. If we sanitise everything this aspect of it all will be lost.

On the other hand, if someone is particularly sensitive to a particular 'thing', it makes sense for them to avoid it. I've always thought, for instance, that rather than age-related certificates on films there should be warnings to parents who can then decide on the suitability for their own children (and this applies to adults too), so that people can screen out things they don't want to see - even if it's a temporary measure whilst they are still grieving, or until they feel able to cope with whatever the situation is.

On the third hand ?, there are so many possible 'triggers' that it's reaching the point where you can't hear a poem read, or watch any form of entertainment without having to hear about the content in advance - it can spoil the experience before it starts.

I do like the poster, though - I'm tempted to send for a tea-towel.

Warning-any bears or members of the audience identifying as bears in the audience should be aware that we are not anti- bear and recognise their ursine rights to pursue members of the cast stage right or indeed stage left”
Brilliant ??

For King Lear..... No eyeballs were removed in the making of this production.

Love the poster. Shows quite how ridiculous our snowflake society is becoming.

Maw ?

To be serious (for a moment) - the one play I find problematical is The Merchant of Venice.
Yes, I know it is of its time, but the blatant anti -Semitism, regularly reinforced by choosing an actor with (for want of a better word) “Jewish” facial characteristics , makes me very uncomfortable.
Shylock is very much wronged but is presented almost universally as a monstrous villain and someone deserving no pity.
However, on the subject of female equality Shakespeare gives us a shining example in Portia well ahead of her time.
(But don’t get me started on The Taming if the Shrew.)

“The Taming of the Shrew”

good point mawbe but isnt that the same for say fagin in oliver who i believe is jewish

it has to be - trying to be delicate here - an ugly,mean sort of looking actor to fit the description of the character

Oh my, are the going to change names in A Midsummer Nights Dream ?
eg. Bottom, Titania
They sound a bit rude and may offend.?

Oliver Twist is a book - and while you can put whatever visual interpretation you want on a book character, he is very racially stereotyped. As are other characters in Dickens.
Oliver! is a 20th century musical and yes- the depiction of Fagin is pretty unacceptable by today’s standards.

Isn't Romeo and Juliet on the GCSE English literature reading list?

Perhaps they should recommend some Mills & Boon instead!

I don't think anyone is suggesting that texts should not be studied, just that people seeing particular performances of theatre productions should have trigger warnings.

The question about whether outdated views in texts should be a barrier to their being on the curriculum is often debated. In my opinion there is no reason why they shouldn't be taught, along with discussions of the troubling issues. In fact, I think it would be worrying if children were only taught texts that fit the political views of the day (and it's debatable who would be best placed to decide on those). They need to be stretched and asked to consider different points of view, even if they are difficult ones. Also, looking at, say, racism through the lens of a book or drama can be a useful way of doing it, without the children feeling lectured or told what to think.

When it comes to productions, a decent director can tackle those issues head on. Look at the film production of The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino. That looks at anti-semitism from Shylock's point of view. Plays are not stuck in their time - without changing the script they can be updated with clever casting, costumes, props and even meaningful pauses or glances after controversial speeches.

Portia may have been ahead of her time, but she was certainly racist: see her comments about the Prince of Morocco.

And MoV is certainly less antisemitic than Marlowe's Jew of Malta