To Zoom or not to Zoom: Adapting Educational Versions of Shakespeare’s Plays for an Online Platform During the Covid Pandemic

Peadar Donohoe; Marcus Bale

doi:10.33178/scenario.14.2.7

Authors

Peadar Donohoe CIT Cork School of Music
Marcus Bale Cyclone Rep

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33178/scenario.14.2.7

Keywords:

Zoom, Theatre, Shakespeare, Online theatre

Abstract

In this contribution to the Window of Practice-section, we will introduce the reader to Cyclone Rep’s interactive Shakespeare plays for secondary school students and then discuss the challenges we faced adapting our work for the online medium.

Author Biographies

Peadar Donohoe, CIT Cork School of Music

Peadar Donohoe is a lecturer at CIT Cork School of Music and a writer and theatre director. His most recent written work appeared on the Abbey Stage as part of the ‘Dear Ireland’ project. He is well known as writer/director of the “The Shakespeare Sessions” which are abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays that include original material which break the fourth wall and invite learner interaction, participation and discussion. He also has written/directed Cyclone Rep’s Bullying Prevention Session which has toured to school throughout Ireland since 2013 and is currently shortlisted in The Arts Category for ‘The National Lottery Good Causes Award’.
Marcus Bale, Cyclone Rep

Marcus Bale trained in Buenos Aires for 7 years in different Actors’ Studios. He studied all over the world Improvisation, Clown, Mime, Physical, Mask and Anthropological Theatre. He has performed, devised and directed in Ireland and abroad more than 70 plays ranging from Shakespeare to Clown. For 18 years he has taught in Ireland, Germany, Italy, Canada & Argentina Improvisation, Clowning, Commedia and the Techniques of Grotowski,Coq & Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed, always focusing on physical aspects of theatre. Besides being one of Cyclone Rep’s main performers, he is the Company Manager.

References

Billings, Kevin (2020): Zoom Announces New Security Changes In Response To Hacks And 'Zoom-Bombing' Incidents. International Business Times. https://www.ibtimes.com/zoom-announces-new-security-changes-response-hacks-zoom-bombing-incidents-2955269 [last accessed: December 22, 2020}

Ni Bhriain, Seona (2012): Review of theatrical presentations of curriculum plays for second-level school audiences. http://www.artscouncil.ie/uploadedFiles/wwwartscouncilie/Content/Research_and_Publications/Young_people_children_and_the_arts/Review%20of%20theatrical%20presentations%20of%20curriculum%20plays%20for%20second-level%20school%20audiences.pdf [last accessed: December 21, 2020}

Peters, Jay (2020): Zoom adds new security and privacy measures to prevent Zoombombing". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/3 /21207643/zoom-security-privacy-zoombombing-passwords-waiting-rooms-default [last accessed: April 12, 2020]

Zoom Blog (2020): How to Keep the Party Crashers from Crashing Your Zoom Event. Zoom Blog. March 20, 2020. https://blog.zoom.us/keep-uninvited-guests-out-of-your-zoom-event [last accessed: January 11, 2021]