CPD: Teaching Anti-Racist Shakespeare

Shakespeare's Globe, along with many other theatrical institutions, moved online over the past year, and as such this CPD session took place on Zoom – and while there is no substitute for in-person human contact, this did have the advantage that teachers were able to join from all over the world. Aimed at teachers in secondary schools, the workshop's intention was to unlock ways to use Shakespeare actively, to explode racist myths. There were opportunities throughout for direct engagement and discussion, and for on-the-feet practical exercises.

We began with a discussion about what ‘anti-racism’ actually means, highlighting the distinction between simply not being racist and making a conscious effort actively to challenge racism. Participants talked about the moral imperative to speak up rather than staying silent in instances of racism – and some student-friendly graphics were shared showing the distinction between non-racist and anti-racist behaviour. Throughout the workshop we were engaged with as if we were students ourselves, and this discussion like all other elements could be lifted exactly as-is and repeated in the classroom.

After some warm-up activities, we moved into an exploration of text. Participants had been sent a pack in advance of the session and we began by hurling Shakespearean racial slurs at our Zoom cameras, discussing the impacts of the words on us, then went on to analyse speeches both by and about Othello, as well as a speech by Shylock.

For me, the most positive element of this workshop was the opportunity to hear the input of other teachers: it was really very interesting to learn from different people's takes on the texts – extents to which, for example, some found The Merchant of Venice simply too anti-semitic to be teachable to a modern class, while others felt that the text can be used successfully to challenge antisemitism.

Ultimately, Shakespeare, like all text, is open to interpretation. Personally, while I bought certain aspects of the ideas put forward by the workshop, others felt a stretch to me. I love to read, watch, perform and teach Shakespeare's works, but like the Bible, there are parts which are difficult to map onto modern ways of thinking. While this session made it clear how you can teach Shakespeare in a nonracist way, for me it was a leap to suggest that his work can be used actively to explode racist myths.

This workshop cost attendees £20 and took place on two dates on Zoom.

For more CPD from Shakespeare's Globe, including further dates for this workshop between 27 March and 10 April, go to www.shakespearesglobe.com/learn/teacher-training.