The Royal Shakespeare Company is to become the first UK theatre to co-host a “massive open online course”, or MOOC, giving people around the world free access to leading Shakespeare experts, actors and directors.
With a growing percentage of young people using online and digital resources, the MOOC is the latest in a number of initiatives from the RSC making use of new technology. The Much Ado About Nothing: In Performance MOOC will take place in March 2015.
Jacqui O’Hanlon, the RSC’s director of education, said, “the way people communicate, socialise and generally live their lives has altered dramatically over the past decade. Digital platforms have allowed us to reach people that we wouldn’t have been able to touch through more traditional channels, whether because of geographical limitations or because they just didn’t think theatre was for them.
“Our schools broadcasts programme, which has just had its fourth screening, means that thousands of schoolchildren who wouldn’t ordinarily access our work have now seen a world-class theatre production in their classroom. They’ve also had the opportunity to talk directly to creative teams about the work they’ve seen.
“More than 50% of audiences have been new to Shakespeare, 87% new to the RSC and a huge number are planning to attend a live theatre performance in the future as a result.
“It's clear that using new technologies is breaking down some of the barriers to participation that young people can experience. What it means is that we’re able to share our work and processes with many more young people than ever before.”
The RSC believes its first MOOC and its recently launched free interactive resources for teachers will continue this success.
The suite of free interactive resources for each of Shakespeare’s plays will include “everything a teacher would need to teach a particular play”. The resources for Henry IV Parts I and II are already live and the whole Shakespeare canon will be online by 2019.
Further information, an introductory trailer and details of how to sign up for the Much Ado About Nothing: in Performance MOOC are available at the Future Learn web site.