MSF ZOOM WORKSHOP SERIES: “Shakespeare and Meisner'

Friday, January 24, 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm
Building a Bridge with the Gonsalves Method with Aileen Gonsalves (Over 25 years with Royal Shakespeare Company UK) Presented by the Montague Shakespeare Festival

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WORKSHOP

Join Aileen Gonsalves, an noted director and performer with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), for an immersive workshop that brings together the art of Shakespeare and the Meisner technique through her pioneering Gonsalves Method. Titled "Shakespeare and Meisner: Building a Bridge with the Gonsalves Method," this interactive Zoom session provides a unique opportunity to explore how to establish authentic connections using Shakespeare's heightened language and create consistently compelling characters.

This workshop is a must for actors seeking to deepen their performance skills, directors looking to broaden their creative toolkit, or anyone interested in discovering the practical ways in which classic and contemporary performance methodologies intersect. Through replicable exercises, fun games, and a focus on personal connection, Aileen will guide you in unlocking a more profound, resonant, and truthful approach to Shakespeare's text.

What to Expect from the Workshop:

Authentic Connection through Meisner and Shakespeare: Learn how to use the Gonsalves Method to break down barriers and engage with Shakespeare's language on a deeply personal level, enhancing both emotional truth and connection.

Creating Unique Characters: Develop tools to make Shakespeare's characters truly your own. Aileen will help you build characters that are consistent and grounded, using exercises that emphasize spontaneity and genuine emotional response.

Fun and Practical Techniques: Engage in interactive games and exercises that you can replicate in your practice. The workshop is designed to be hands-on, fostering both exploration and practical application.

The Gonsalves Method: Get an introduction to Aileen's innovative Gonsalves Method, which adapts Meisner's techniques to the challenges of performing Shakespeare, bridging heightened text with authentic emotional delivery.

Community Interaction: Connect with a group of like-minded individuals who are eager to delve into Shakespeare in a new way. Share insights, experiences, and the joy of learning in a supportive environment.

Acting and Directing Credits:

Aileen Gonsalves has over 25 years of experience with the RSC and has worked alongside such notable figures as Judi Dench and Simon Russell Beale. She was the Associate Director for The Tempest at the Swan Theatre and has performed with Vanessa Redgrave in Hecuba. In addition to her performance work, she has led numerous educational initiatives, including serving as Head of the MA in Acting at ArtsEd and Head of Acting at Drama Studio London. Aileen isthe founder of the Butterfly Theatre Collective, known for its immersive site-responsive productions across Europe. She is also an Associate Director at Kali Theatre, a South Asian women’s new writing theatre company in London, and is an acting coach for professional actors as well as leaders in the Green Party of England and Wales.

This workshop is ideal for actors, students, educators, and enthusiasts eager to explore Shakespeare in a manner that feels alive, accessible, and resonant with modern performance practices. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with Aileen Gonsalves, whose passion for truthful, authentic performance will inspire and transform your approach to Shakespeare.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors and Underwriters

Australis Aquaculture • Artisan Beverage Cooperative • Benjamin Company • Berkshire Brewing Company • Cohn and Company Real Estate Agency • Community Credit • Common Capital • Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts • Connecticut River Internists • Dean's Beans • Easthampton Savings Bank • FirstLight GDF Suezna • Gill Tavern • Goff Media • Great Falls Harvest • Green River Festival • Greenfield Community College • Greenfield Cooperative Bank • Greenfield Savings Bank • Loot • Massachusetts Cultural Council • Montague Bookmill Montague WebWorks • Northeast Solar • People's Pint • Rainmaker Consulting • The Rendezvous • Solar Store of Greenfield • Stobierski and Connor • Told Video • True North Transit • Turn It Up

Exciting News for A Happening IV: Leviathan

Cloudgaze and Eggtooth Productions are thrilled to announce that we have received a generous grant from the Markham-Nathan Fund for Social Justice to support our 2024 Immersive Arts Festival, “A Happening IV: Leviathan.”

This festival will transform the Shea Theater into an exploration of theme, hosting installations, music, theatrical performances, and movement pieces, featuring the collective contributions of over 30 local artists. Audiences will experience otherworldly environments and narratives inspired by folklore, fairy tales, horror motifs, American literature, and the mythos of the Old Testament, all of which delve into the central question guiding the festival: "What does it mean to encounter something greater than yourself and to be consumed by it?" Through this theme, we explore how a community reemerges and imagines itself after destruction and transformation.

With the support of the Markham-Nathan Fund, we are excited to create an event that complicates perspectives and fosters meaningful dialogue. We are grateful for this partnership and for the work of the Markham-Nathan Fund for Social Justice.

Thanks to the Mass Cultural Council for their vital support this year.We'd also like to thank the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts for their support in the form of a Flexible Funding grant. We couldn't do this work without you!