Applied Shakespeare aims to explore the potential impact of Shakespearean theatre on socially relevant contexts by starting from the close investigation, both as text and performance, of its emotionally charged language which is capable of performing a whole range of nuanced feelings and passions in a complex network of relations among subjects.

The project’s main attempt at a social impact relies on applying Shakespeare’s theatre to three areas of social interest in order to create new educational models, which are inspired by and in line with transversal life-skills and key competences as recommended by EU documents.

Applied Shakespeare counts three Research Units each of which is implementing its own area of investigation: Roma Tre University applies Shakespeare to the field of secondary school education, the University of Milan to the sector of juvenile detention centres, and the University of Bari to the sphere of healthcare and medical humanities.

To this end, each Research Unit is developing regular interdisciplinary seminars among scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders, where new methodologies are being devised and formulated for a series of learn-by-doing activities and workshops addressed to the target groups and intended as sites of observation of the kind of impact theatre-making as well as theatre-going (as a broad practices) can have on societal changes in the three areas of application.

Finally, Applied Shakespeare would like to promote the emergence of a participatory culture aimed at bridging individuals and communities.

Maddalena Pennacchia (Principal Investigator)