These delightful adaptations by John and Leela Hort, shortened and in modern English, are an excellent way of introducing young people to Shakespeare - they are readable, they bring out the humour of the originals, and they are surprisingly true to the feeling of Shakespeare's plays. They are much appreciated by older people too, many of whom were put off Shakespeare at school.
These Plays are:
ideal for Schools (In the classroom and as the school play;
a useful preparation for a visit to the theatre;
an excellent text for students of English as a foreign language.
The plays keep all the characters and scenes of the originals, and they are about two thirds their length. Acting time is about one and a half hours, so they can be used as a school play or produced by drama groups who cannot cope with the originals.
What the Press said:
"Shakespeare made entertaining and simple, faithful to the characters and scenes and capturing the essence of the originals."
TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT
"Though shortened and simplified, everything is there except the poetry, which is not lost, but waiting for a later, and now more aware, discovery."
THE GUARDIAN
"A valid way in to Shakespeare... Comparing them with the full version strikes me as an interesting classroom exercise."
SHAKESPEARE AND SCHOOLS PROJECT Cambridge Institute of Education
