Join us this fall at the Aptos Library for an engaging five-week exploration of William Shakespeare’s Richard II. Each Saturday morning from October 4 through November 1, 2025, participants will enjoy a rich blend of scholarship, discussion, and performance.
Program Format:
10:15 a.m. – Betty Leonard Community Room (In-person or Zoom)
First Hour: A conversation with a distinguished guest speaker offering insights into Shakespeare, history, performance, and interpretation.
Second Hour: Volunteer readers bring the play to life with aloud readings of selected scenes.
Special Event:
On November 1, the series concludes with a screening of Richard II from The Hollow Crown (2012), directed by Rupert Goold and starring Ben Whishaw, Rory Kinnear, David Suchet, and Patrick Stewart.
Guest Speakers & Readings:
Oct 4: Sean Keilen (UC Santa Cruz Literature Professor; founding Director of Shakespeare Workshop; dramaturg for Santa Cruz Shakespeare). Readings: Act I, Scenes 1–4.
Oct 11: Katie O’Hare (UCSC PhD, specialist in Shakespeare’s Henriad; incoming UCLA faculty). Readings: Act II, Scenes 1–4; Act III, Scene 1.
Oct 18: Jessica Kubzansky (Artistic Director, Boston Court Pasadena; author of R2, a reimagining of Richard II performed by Santa Cruz Shakespeare in 2021). Readings: Act III, Scenes 2–3; Act IV, Scene 1 to line 162.
Oct 25: Paul Whitworth (Professor Emeritus, UCSC Theater Arts; former Royal Shakespeare Company actor; Artistic Director, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, 1996–2007). Readings: Act IV, Scene 1 line 163 through Act V, Scenes 1–8.
Details & Participation:
Open to all—no prior Shakespeare experience needed.
Volunteer readers are welcome.
For more information, Zoom links, or to volunteer as a reader, email:
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