This page includes divisions for 24 plays. Click the buttons below to sort.
Holding a Reading
Since 2002, I have been part of a group that meets on a monthly basis to do readings of Shakespeare's plays. We generally meet one Sunday afternoon each month, and read one play all the way through. You will run your readings with whatever philosophy you choose, but the following ideals have been successful for me and my group.
In our readings, there is no preparation necessary, no rehearsal... you don't even need to read the play in advance. This is not a performance for an audience; it's just a group of people who enjoy reading Shakespeare out loud. Acting ability is not required. Prior familiarity with Shakespeare is not expected. Readers are encouraged to stop and ask questions if they get lost.
The play is chosen in advance and the choice is sent out with the invitations. Readers RSVP so we can get a head count. With the help of a computer program named Quincy, I divide the roles of the play into parts based on the number of readers we have. Each part lists roles from the play scene-by-scene. The readers choose parts randomly. Two readers may trade their parts if they both choose, but not individual roles within their parts.
None of the roles are divided - each character is read by the same reader throughout the play. This helps those who are not familiar with the play follow the plot more easily. It also allows the reader to follow a character's entire arc from start to finish. Both men and women read both male and female roles.
The purpose of this page is to make these play divisons available to you and your group.
In our readings, there is no preparation necessary, no rehearsal... you don't even need to read the play in advance. This is not a performance for an audience; it's just a group of people who enjoy reading Shakespeare out loud. Acting ability is not required. Prior familiarity with Shakespeare is not expected. Readers are encouraged to stop and ask questions if they get lost.
The play is chosen in advance and the choice is sent out with the invitations. Readers RSVP so we can get a head count. With the help of a computer program named Quincy, I divide the roles of the play into parts based on the number of readers we have. Each part lists roles from the play scene-by-scene. The readers choose parts randomly. Two readers may trade their parts if they both choose, but not individual roles within their parts.
None of the roles are divided - each character is read by the same reader throughout the play. This helps those who are not familiar with the play follow the plot more easily. It also allows the reader to follow a character's entire arc from start to finish. Both men and women read both male and female roles.
The purpose of this page is to make these play divisons available to you and your group.