Shakespeare on Film: British Council Smart Talk Series, with Prof. Martin Butler

To celebrate 400 years of William Shakespeare, the School hosted the British Council and Prof. Martin Butler to speak on The Bard as a global figure, exploring the impact Shakespeare on both the domestic stage and in the international theatre. Prof. Butler – Professor in the School of English at the University of Leeds (UK), addressed an audience of over 200 senior school staff and pupils, in addition to a range of local teachers and education professionals looking to gain a deeper insight into the teaching of Shakespeare in schools. Mr. Edward Moran - Head of English at Wellington College International Tianjin, shares his views on the presentation and Smart Talk series: “Professor Butler's talk was a perfect way to introduce our students to "Shakespeare Lives". Shakespeare's work is firmly ingrained in our Wellington English Syllabus at IB, IGCSE and Key Stage 3 so many students were able to apply much of their own learning to what Professor Butler had to say. Looking forward to our summer term, it was a perfect platform for us to launch our own creative activities related to Shakespeare's 400th Anniversary. It is vital that learners approach Shakespeare with confidence to make judgements, understanding that his words are there to be used and adapted to our own lives and certainly not to be treated with blind reverence or fear. Professor Butler's use of multimedia and the variety of examples he discussed confirmed much of what we aim to do here at Wellington College International Tianjin.” In terms of language learning and acquisition, the Smart Talk provided the audience with a wide range of ideas for better understanding Shakespeare and the English language in general. Mr. Paul Findlay – Head of EAL, was greatly encouraged by the views of Prof. Butler, and said the following about the talk: “This excellent talk highlighted how, through modern film adaptations, graphic novels and comics, in addition to the simplified EAL readers available, the plots and characters of Shakespeare can be made accessible to all international students. EAL students are so creative, and here at Wellington there is a genuine love of music and drama, both on stage and in class. Shakespeare bridges cultural gaps, and reinforces language learning whilst enhancing study techniques.”

What is a Smart Talk

“The British Council’s Smart Talk programme is a series of master classes, lectures and workshops aimed at giving people in China an insight into UK education, with a particular focus on how, through educational experience, inspiration and innovation, we can encourage creative thinking and active participation. “Smart Talks bring some of the UK’s most creative minds and innovative thinkers to China to share their personal experience and professional insight. The topics highlight not only the wealth of options a UK education provides, but also the inspiring work, research and adventures UK graduates are involved in all over the world. Smart Talks demonstrate the excellence of a UK education and highlight the most innovative projects coming out of the UK. “Previous Smart Talk speakers include actor Sir Patrick Stewart, cloning pioneer Sir Ian Wilmut, adventurer Mark Beaumont, and shoe designer Jimmy Choo. “In 2016, we will invite a number of Shakespeare experts to share their stories in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the great playwright’s death, which will be part of our global “Shakespeare Lives” programme.”

Martin Butler School of English University of Leeds

Martin Butler was educated at Deacon’s Grammar School for Boys, Peterborough, and studied for his BA at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He earned his PhD at the University of Cambridge, and was a research fellow of Trinity Hall and of the British Academy. He is now a professor in the School of English, University of Leeds, where he has taught since 1984. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2013, and has held visiting appointments at the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC, and the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars. His books include Theatre and Crisis 1632-1642 (1984), The Stuart Court Masque and Political Culture (2008) and Ben Jonson, Man of Letters (forthcoming). He has edited Shakespeare’s Cymbeline (2004) and The Tempest (2007), and is a General Editor of The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Ben Jonson (7 vols, 2012; online version 2014). He is now engaged as General Editor of the Oxford Edition of the Works of John Marston, scheduled for publication in 2020. To download Prof. Martin Butler’s full CV (English/Chinese), please click Here.