Shakespeare Voices
Established December 2023
2-8 attendees per group - multiple groups
Flexible meeting dates and times
Over 40 text-extracts performed to date
We take it in turns to lead the group (per chosen text).
Copies of texts and supporting background analysis provided.
Recordings provided for personal use and family sharing.
A Typical SV session structure
SV Core Approach to Voice Performance
Text Used:
Arden Performance Edition (where available)
or
Arden Third Series.
Text and performance preparation based on:
John Barton’s book and series:
Playing Shakespeare
Voice work based on:
Cicely Berry:
Voice and the Actor
Jeanette Nelson:
The Voice Exercise Book, a guide to Effective Voice Use
John Barton Advice - source Playing Shakespeare
Play thoughts & intentions rather than mood
Get on top of thoughts before think about tune (Page 23)
Our gods must not be concepts but the words that are in the text! (page 24)
extra stresses - use common sense eg //-/ not -/-/ at beginning of line spondee: // Iamb: -/
Pauses (p) - earn them - use them wisely - don’t waste them or over-use them! add extra pause (p) rarely
Mono’s (m) - identify & choose where to heavily stress - pace will be slower!
Breath (b) - identify where a deeper breath is needed & pace yourself!
Arden Performance 12 texts
12 of 37 available as of October 2025
1. Hamlet
2. Twelfth Night
3. Tempest
4. MacBeth
5. Romeo & Juliet
6. Othello
7. A Midsummer Nights Dream
8. King Lear
9. The Winter’s Tale
10. Richard III
11. As You Like It
12. Much Ado About Nothing