OTP 2020 Hub Programme - Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
We are excited to announce that The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust will be joining OUTing The Past Festival as a hub for the first time for 2020. Our programme of events will take place at The Shakespeare Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon, on February 12th 2020.
Byron and the Lion King: Cheryl Morgan (1pm – 1.30pm)
Presentation looks at a play, ancient texts and archaeology to see how ideas of sexuality and gender change with time.
Bloomsbury’s Hidden Neighbours: A lesbian love triangle? : Jane Traies (2pm – 2.30pm)
This presentation queers the story of a leading Shakespeare scholar of the twentieth century. Caroline Spurgeon was the first woman in the UK to become a Professor of English Literature, was co-founder of the International Federation of University Women, and was widely known as the author of important books about Chaucer and Shakespeare.
Creating the queer archive: Jessica Heath (2.45pm – 3.15pm)
This presentation shall look at the relationship between archives and Queer history, using the work undertaken as part of my placement for archive studies.
ProudShakespeare (3pm – 6pm)
Items from our collections and Archives relating to LGBT+ history will be on display before and during the events. A new source guide collating these items and more can all be accessed anytime in our reading room.
Trudy Howson & Paul Edmondson (3.30pm – 4.30pm)
We look forward to hearing Trudy read her work, learning more from her about her poetic inspirations and what it means to her to be LGBT Poet Laureate.
The Bisexual Voices of Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Luke Turner & Paul Edmondson (5pm – 6pm)
Paul Edmondson discusses how we might recognise Shakespeare’s Sonnets many-sided genders and sexualities? How might we set them free in our time and culture?
Luke Turner, author of the brave bisexual memoir Out of the Woods, will be reflecting on how we might reclaim the bisexual experience from the past, and how we write about it today.
Shakespeare Reading Room (10am – 3.30pm)
Visitors are welcome to access our new source guide on the day or book in advance to access the material within the guide. Please see our website for more information on how to organise a visit to our Reading Room.
All of these events are free to attend and no booking is required. See our website for more information.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust will be holding a further event in March that looks creatively at LGBT+ history. Keep an eye on our website for updates.
Trudy Howson: LGBT POET LAUREATE 2016-19 Trudy Howson’s poetry explores landscapes, internal and external. She writes about the landscape of the LGBT community with warmth and humour. Her work is topical and inspirational. She is currently developing a living interactive form of poetry.
Paul Edmondson: Paul Edmondson is Head of Research and Knowledge and Director of the Stratford-upon-Avon Poetry Festival for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. He is the author, co-author, and co-editor of many books and articles about Shakespeare. His collection of Shakespeare-related poetry, Destination Shakespeare has recently appeared (www.misfitpress.co : the publishers donate a pair of prescription spectacles to a child in India for each copy sold).
Luke Turner: Author: Out of the Woods, a critically-acclaimed memoir of sexuality & 'nature'.