By BILAL SALOO
Batley Library will play host to the works of William Shakespeare when it performs A Midsummer Night’s Dream later this month.
The joint endeavour by the Friends of Batley Library and the Batley Poets to celebrate Shakespeare Week will be the first time that the library has held a performance of one of Shakespeare’s plays.
The reading will take place on Sunday 24th March 2019 from 2-5pm at Batley Library and is open to the public to both take part and listen.
Although A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of the most popular plays by the bard to be performed on stage, readings aren’t usually the method employed to showcase Shakespeare’s stories. However Mohammed Barber, part of the Friends of Batley Library group, says it’s how he got into Shakespeare:
“It’s easier to organise. Theatres can be very exclusive. This opens Shakespeare up to people who want to try it but felt like they never could. It works. It’s how I got into Shakespeare.”
“It would be great to perform more Shakespeare in the Library, in the future, and tackle some of the longer and more serious plays like Othello and Hamlet.”
Speaking to a member of the Batley Poets about why Shakespeare has endured, they said:
“Shakespeare is a wonderful storyteller. He has a way of expressing emotion whether it’s humour, tragedy, love or a combination of things that I just couldn’t think of. He understands human character, the imperfections we have, that’s why his works have endured. We relate to them.”
All those interested in reading a part should contact Mohammed Barber as soon as possible at mobarber@outlook.com or ask a member of library staff for details. No previous experience is necessary.
