For juveniles sentenced to Shakespeare, the world’s a stage
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — For some juvenile offenders, their choice is straight out of Hamlet: to act or not to act.
Shakespeare & Company, a theatre company in Lenox, Massachusetts, works with the courts to get youngsters who run afoul of the law sentenced to perform works of Shakespeare onstage as an alternative to community service or juvenile detention.
Juveniles sentenced to Shakespeare read the bard’s works, take on the role of one or more of his characters, come up with ideas for costumes and sets, memorize their lines, rehearse and then act out their roles for an audience of family, friends and court personnel.
The kids almost always hate the idea of performing Shakespeare at first, but by the end of the six-week program, many say they’ve found new friends and a new sense of accomplishment.