Imaginative Confrontations with Shakespeare

Welcome back to the technecast! Today’s episode features a conversation between Beth Palmer, Robert Shaughnessy and Alicia Barnes reflecting on a series of seminars and workshops called ‘Imaginative Confrontations with Shakespeare: Truth, Reconciliation, Justice’. The series tackles questions such as how do we forgive the unforgivable, and who gets to say whether we should or not? They take one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays”, ‘Measure for Measure’ to think through these issues and how they intersect with our contemporary moment, exploring the literary and cultural canon in order to address the injustices that it has excused or obscured. In addition to Beth, Rob and Alicia’s fascinating conversation, you’ll hear scenes read from ‘Measure for Measure’ and a scene written in a workshop led by Chinoyerem Odimba. *Beth Palmer is Senior Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Surrey  and Director of Postgraduate Studies for the School of Literature and Languages. She has published widely on Victorian literature and culture and on the ways in which contemporary culture mediates the nineteenth century.Robert Shaughnessy is Professor of Theatre at the University of Surrey and Director of Research of Guildford School of Acting. He has published on Shakespeare and early modern drama on stage and screen, and his current work focuses on the intersections between Shakespeare, applied and socially engaged performance, and cultural diversity.Alicia Barnes is a PhD Candidate in English Literature, funded by the Doctoral College Studentship Award. Her current research focuses on nineteenth-century British Railway Literature and its intersections with Empire and national identity. During her MA in Nineteenth Century Studies at the University of Sheffield, Alicia was awarded the Horace Walpole prize for her research on the Gothic. She has presented at multiple conferences, including the International Student Byron Conference in Messolonghi, Greece, covering a range of topics that span the long nineteenth century. Alicia is also an organising member of SAHRG. Twitter: @aliciarbarnesMore info about Chinoyerem Odimba’s work: http://theagency.co.uk/the-clients/chino-odimba/ / Twitter: @Chino100percentMany thanks to the voice actors who took part in the recording for this episode: Mariana: Svea Brain Jangen / Insta: @sveabrainjangen / Twitter: @sveabrainjangen Isabella: Emily Prosser-Davies / Twitter: @emprosserdaviesJuliet: Rebecca Helen / Twitter: @rebeccahelenj / Insta: @rebeccahelenjDuke: Dr Darren Tunstall / Head of Theatre Studies at University of Surrey Barnardine: Aaron Hodgetts / Insta: @aaronhodgettsacting / Spotlight: https://www.spotlight.com/2254-6724-4453*The Technecast:technecast.wixsite.com/listen/cfp / contact: [email protected] / twitter: @technecastThe Technecast is funded by the Techne AHRC-DTP, and edited by Julien Clin, Felix Clutson, Edwin Gilson & Polly Hember.Episode coordinated by Polly Hember / twitter: @pollyhemberRoyalty free music generously shared by Steve Oxen. FesliyanStudios.com