We Are Proud to Work With Scholars and Artists from the Following Institutions
Shakespeare Institute
An internationally renowned- research institution based in the heart of Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon, established in 1951 to study Shakespeare's works, contexts, lives and afterlives, to advise and observe Stratford's Shakespearean theatres, and to train postgraduates at both MA and PhD level
Everything to Everybody
Birmingham is home to the first great Shakespeare Library in the world, which, from the very beginning, has belonged to all the people of the city. Over the next few years, the ‘Everything to Everybody’ Project – a pioneering joint venture between the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City Council – will reinvent this progressive Shakespeare heritage with people and communities across contemporary Birmingham, in a rolling programme of events, which will culminate alongside the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Shakespeare’s Globe
A world-renowned theatre, education centre, and cultural landmark, located on the bank of the River Thames in London, UK. Our tours, bar and restaurant are open, and we are always open online, providing Shakespeare for all through digital events and resources.
Flute Theatre
Flute is a true ensemble: a group of pioneering actors led by Kelly Hunter MBE, pushing the boundaries of Shakespeare performance for audiences across the world including those with autism. We combine pioneering research with artistic excellence. In response to COVID-19 we have adapted our work to be accessible virtually.
Spotlight on Flute Theatre
Flute Theatre is presenting A Midsummer Night’s Dream, an online interactive performance for autistic individuals and their families, from 12 October - 12 December. The show is experienced through sensory games that are musical, funny and physical. Through these dream games we share the eyes of Titania, the ears of Bottom, the magic hands of Puck and the hearts of the lovers. If a participant finds one of the dream games particularly enjoyable, they can play it as long as they like. You can download the show announcement here. Booking available here.
To make a donation and support Flute Theatre’s important work, click here. You can contact Kelly Hunter, founder and Artistic Director of Flute Theatre, at flutetheatrecompany@gmail.com.
“I have autism. The play made me feel very happy and excited. It was so much fun. It also made me feel very relaxed. It took me away from the stress.” Autistic participant of Pericles
“I am honestly in shock! I thought you’d be able to hold his attention for about 10 minutes, and I only just realized he was captivated for an entire hour! You guys are insanely amazing!” Parent of participant
Since March 2020 we have adapted our work to be available online with pioneering performances and workshops.
From March 18th to July 11th 2020 we made 130h of live-streamed Heartbeat Hellos for autistic people to calm inner nerves.
From June 22nd to July 18th 2020 we made 90 performances of Pericles Online for one autistic individual and their family per show.
“Lumen is a very happy eight-year-old, non-verbal, autistic boy who primarily uses gesture to communicate. He says a few words, although not always in context. He conveys his needs and emotions, as well as self-regulates by spinning, flapping his hands, jumping, swinging, chewing various objects, and using facial expressions. Lumen suffers from sensory processing disorder which translates into him being very sensitive to sound, light, temperature, and texture. He learns about his environment through touch and also by licking objects. He has difficulty with transitions, being flexible in situations, and understandably, being misunderstood. It is during these times that he harms others and himself. All of this makes his participation in Flute Theatre’s activities all the more profound. He has been given tools not offered anywhere else. He has been given a sense of security and familiarity, which for an autistic child, are not always easy to come by. He said ‘Hello’ for the first time after listening to Heartbeat Hellos for weeks; he was captivated for the entire hour of Pericles online; he smiled, laughed, and even emulated facial expressions of actors; and he has sung some of the songs he has heard from Flute’s Soundcloud as a way to self-regulate or to express joy." Lisha Rooney, Lumen's mother
Teatro La Plaza, our partners in Lima Peru
The project
Birmingham is home to the first great Shakespeare Library in the world, which, from the very beginning, has belonged to all the people of the city. Over the next few years, the ‘Everything to Everybody’ Project will reinvent this progressive Shakespeare heritage with people and communities across contemporary Birmingham, in a rolling programme of events, including community co-curated exhibitions, family days, neighbourhood productions, and high-profile city-centre events, which will culminate alongside the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. ‘Everything to Everybody’ is a pioneering joint venture between the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City Council, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Ewan Fernie, director of the ‘Everything to Everybody’ project, is pictured left with an image of George Dawson, the radical preacher, lecturer and activist, who founded the Shakespeare Library as part of a pioneering ‘Civic Gospel’ in19th-century Birmingham. Click below to hear Professor Fernie’s account of the E2E project, the collaboration between E2E and Shakespeare For All, and why the work of E2E matters in the 21st century.
“I'm really pleased to announce that Everything to Everybody is entering into a partnership with this course, Shakespeare for All. It's a partnership that's especially exciting because of the vision and goals that we share.”
Photo credit: Ben Gregory-Ring
Photo credit: Ruth Millington
Why the Globe’s work matters
Dr. Will Tosh, Lecturer and Research Fellow at Shakespeare’s Globe, London, explains what Shakespeare’s Globe does and why their work matters. To make a donation to support the Globe, click the link below.
Spotlight on the Shakespeare Institute
Professor Michael Dobson, director of the Shakespeare Institute, in front of the Royal Shakespeare Company theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon
Click below to hear Professor Dobson describe the work of the Shakespeare Institute.
