Sarah MacDonald/Samantha Lawson, Norway 2023
In a climate that seeks to enhance richness and diversity, Sarah MacDonald and Samantha Lawson work together to investigate a point of view on Shakespearean text that includes the individual – That is, each individual’s own reactions and experience to text, and performance. Collecting individual and personal ways of understanding the text is important because it also creates diversity and new ways of experiencing Shakespeare, which can often be considered more ‘traditional’ and fixed.
Samantha Lawson is originally from England, and has been teaching at The Oslo Academy of the Arts since 2014, first as a guest teacher, and now employed within the Theatre department. Samantha specialises in text and classical theatre, with a focus on Shakespeare. Samantha was trained as a professional actor at The Bristol Old Vic, and also in Mime and Physical Theatre with Desmond Jones, and Circus at Circomaniacs. In addition, Samantha has a first class degree in English Literature. Samantha has also worked with The Royal Shakespeare Company (UK).
Sarah MacDonald is an educator at The Oslo Academy for the Arts, in the Theatre department. Sarah works with the connections in voice across both song and text. Sarah trained as a professional actor at The Russian academy of Theatre Arts, Århus, and has a Masters in acting from The Oslo Academy of the Arts. She also has a singing/teacher qualification from The Complete Vocal Institute in Copenhagen. Sarah has worked as a freelance actor at several Norwegian theatres since 2008.
Singing your diversity through Shakespeare
"This practical collaboration between singing and text combines Shakespearean excerpts with song and rhythm, to journey from the page to expression to performance. A chosen song and speech are investigated through singing, voice and imagination. Participants can explore a nuanced, personal, presentation and understanding of text, character and situation”