By Rachel Matthews – Contributor

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, Bishop’s students and faculty gathered together for a Shakesperience Showcase, a Humanities Bonanza to celebrate the power experiential learning and the humanities.

Following a short reception, Dr. Jessica Riddell, Mary Harvey, Sonoma Brawley and Riley Handy took the stage to answer the same question: “How does centering experiential learning in the arts help us highlight the power of the humanities to connect us, during a time that feels more urgent than ever?” From there, the premiere of Riley Handy’s documentary on the Stratford Shakesperience, a course that the Bishop’s English Department offers every summer, commenced. Finally, the attendees moved from the Gait to Turner Studio Theatre to experience a preview performance of Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet, directed by Mary Harvey and presented by the Bishop’s Drama Department.

When asked about her inspiration to create a documentary about the Stratford Shakesperience, Riley revealed that “the sense of hope, the depth of soul, and the reverence [the professors] poured into each lesson, woven with fierce love and unwavering acceptance for every student.” The professors she is talking about are the three Wyrd Sisters, as is their chosen moniker, who lead the students through Shakesperience: Dr. Jessica Riddell, Dr. Shannon Murray, and Dr. Lisa Dickson. Riley continued to describe this course as “a dream come true” and recounted the experience of being “surrounded by a community that values and loves theatre, with passionate professors who live and breathe their craft, joined by a wonderful intergenerational cohort of learners.” According to her, “it was beyond enriching.”

Dr. Riddell also spoke about the wonders of the Stratford Festival and its ability to bring together “diverse audiences and engages them in the powerful exercise of co-creation and imagination that builds citizens capable of making the world better.” This, she said, “is the fundamental mission of Shakesperience – and universities.” This is also why Dr. Riddell wanted to organize a Shakesperience Showcase and celebrate the power and importance of the theatre and humanities.

The most recent iteration of Shakesperience, which is what Riley featured in her documentary, ran virtually from June 1-23 before moving to Stratford, Ontario from the 24-28 where the students – both for credit and for life – attended five live performances, participated in talk backs with the actors, and engaged in an immersive and collaborative learning experience together.