Saturday morning in person voice workshop - tickets are £25 per person

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Shakespeare’s sonnets don’t only provide a window into Shakespeare’s life – his work, his personality, his sex life. They also offer ways into working on his language. And ways into working on your own speaking voice.

From the joyful ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?’ to the self-loathing ‘Th’expense of spirit in a waste of shame’, they offer richly varied poetic tones and textures – and rhythms for the tongue to feel, speak and explore. And all in only fourteen lines.

Voice coach Matthew Collins will start the morning workshop with a vocal warm-up before leading participants into an exploration, using vocal exercises, of a selection from the 154 poems, first published as ‘Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Never before Imprinted’. But some sonnets will also come from his plays – Romeo and Juliet; Henry V; A Comedy of Errors.

So, come and get your tongues around some Shakespeare sonnets – the perfect compact texts for vocal self-exploration. And learn about your own voice as you learn more about Shakespeare’s work and life.

The workshop lasts two and a half hours (including a short break) and runs from 10.30am to 1pm.

You don’t have to know anything about Shakespeare or poetry to enjoy this workshop. You don’t have to be theatrical. You don’t have to know anything about voicework.

Everyone is welcome – including under-16s, accompanied by a parent.

About the Workshop Leader Matthew Collins

For 10 years, Matthew Collins was a presenter on BBCtv’s The Travel Show. He also presented on This Morning; Wogan and Well Worth A Visit. He runs Shakespeare workshops in prisons, schools, and for the WI – as well as for corporate and private clients. More info: www.matthewcollins.co.uk

He also runs a social enterprise: www.speakwellwithwillpower.co.uk

Your Voice

Everyone has a true voice. But habits – from cultural, physical and psychological influences – sometimes conspire to conceal it.

Voice work aims to free the speaker from such impediments. It’s about regaining confidence to speak from the heart, just like we did as small children. Matthew’s voice classes are fun, educational, and life-enhancing – and powerful Shakespearean texts give the voice a rich, exciting world to explore.

Responses to Matthew’s Speaking Shakespeare Workshops:

‘Was that me? I’ve no idea where that voice came from’ – WI Member at Denman College

‘Active Shakespeare was much more fun than academic study and activities which required students to respond physically to the language are very clearly a winner’ – Teacher at The London Oratory School

‘Really took me out of myself. Cheers guv’ – prisoner at HMP Wormwood Scrubs