Message Paris' Shakespeare Competition : practice sessions

Dive into the world of Shakespeare with our very own Shakespeare Recital Competition!

Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564. Every year, students in the US and UK compete in Shakespeare Recital Competitions to mark the author's birthday.

This year, Message Paris would like to give all our members (age 7 and above) a unique experience to experience the beauty of Shakespeare’s plays in a fun, interactive way.

Join other Message members and coach Rebecca Gulka, English teacher and founder of Teaching With Class, to practice and prepare for this fun theatrical experience in our inaugural Shakespeare Recital Competition.

What are the competition rules ?

Each contestant will be asked to perform and recite a short monologue, sonnet or quote. The duration will vary depending on your chosen category.

Young Actors (6 to 10 years old): maximum 30 seconds.

Teen Actors (11 to 17 years old): maximum 2 minutes.

Adult Actors (18 Years old and up) : maximum 3 minutes.

A selection of monologues is at your disposal depending on how much of a challenge you want to give yourself.

-> Shakespeare Competition registrations opening soon ! | Message Paris

You can also choose to select your own monologue. The jury will require that it be a Shakespearean monologue or sonnet.

How do I join ?

Simply register yourself or your child in the correct age category by picking the appropriate ticket.

Young Actors (6 to 10 years old) / Teen Actors (11 to 17 years old) / Adult Actors (18 Years old and above).

In order to respect Covid rules and regulations, you will also need to register for SPECTATOR TICKETS if you would like to accompany your child during the performance, or be a member of the audience:

www.messageparis.org/member-event/ ... .

Only people with a valid ticket for each person will be able to enter the venue.

Tickets will be available for spectators who would like to watch the performances via Zoom.

How do I prepare ?

Message Paris will be able to offer a unique experience to all participants thanks to the help of Rebecca Gulka. They will participate in a special session on February 13th via Zoom to indicate what monologue they have chosen. This will allow you to get a personalized prize at the end of the competition, to make sure the length is not too challenging, and to learn more about what the judges will be looking for.

If you would like to be coached the entire time, 3 sessions are available.

Just follow this link to RSVP :

Sunday February 13th at 3pm

Sunday March 20th at 3pm

Sunday April 2nd at 3pm

Competition Day:

Participants will be asked to learn and perform their chosen text before a jury of professional actors and English teachers, as well as a limited number of spectators.

Each contestant will be invited to perform and the jury will give feedback on the performance right after. Positive feedback GUARANTEED !

At the end of the category performances, the jury will take a few minutes to decide and announce the winner of the 1st category.

Please note, that the Teen and Adult winners will be announced together at the end of the event.

What are the prizes ?

Each participant who has checked in with Rebecca during the prep sessions will receive a personalized prize.

The winner of each category will receive the following gifts :

Young Actors' category -> 4-month Family membership at the American Library of Paris.

Teen Actors' category -> a Gift card at Shakespeare and Co Bookstore.

Adult Actors' category -> a Sunday Bilingual Theater Workshop with Theatraverse.

RSVP to register now and come experience this unique Message Paris adventure with our team !

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Learn more about the Jury : Who will be the judges of this event ? 

Joanne ALLAN, Founder, actress and teacher with THEATRAVERSE in Courbevoie since 2008. She is a Queens University Belfast graduate who studied Drama and French under the direction of Rachel O Riordan. She did her professional training at the International School of Theater Jacques Lecoq in Paris and played many Shakespeare roles with the Theatre du Voyageur. 

Emma VISSICCHIO, Theater teacher and actress with THEATRAVERSE in Courbevoie. She studied Educational Theater and French in New York University before working in the education department of the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington DC and moving to France in 2018.

Christine MARCLAND, Theater Director with American Childrens Theater (ACT) in Paris she trained with Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago, completed a BFA in Acting at Point Park's Conservatory of Performing Arts in Pittsburgh. She received training in Shakespeare with Patsy Rodenburg in NYC where she also worked in theater and film. She has studied at the International School of Theater Jacques Lecoq in Paris and has a theater company LiLi Re Based in Oslo.

Learn More about your Coach :

Rebecca GULKA is the founder and teacher of Teaching With Class, an online literacy school for first and second language English learners.

www.teachingwithclass.com