The Globe in London has an exciting series of events planned for the summer: The Heard Word: Pulpit Vs Playhouse.
Some 16th and 17th century preachers complained that the blasts of theatre trumpets were enticing people away from the tolling of church bells. Solemn congregations were turning into garish audiences. The morals of theatre audiences were called into question, too.
Summer events at the Globe complement the Theatre Season and its theme The Word is God and explore the Heard Word as spoken in pulpits and playhouses.
A series of lectures, presented in association with Southwark Cathedral, will mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Speakers include David Crystal, Arnold Hunt and Diarmaid McCulloch, whose lecture on Thomas Cranmer is dedicated to the memory of the late Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark, who initiated the series. Graham Holderness is the 2011 Sam Wanamaker Fellow and will speak about Shakespeare and the King James Bible. Howard Brenton will discuss his Anne Boleyn and his fascination with Tyndale’s Bible while John Wolfson’s annual talk will explore the more secular short story collections that provided Shakespeare with much of his source material. Leading international Shakespeare scholars will be Setting the Scene and will offer introductions to the plays before selected Tuesday and Thursday evening performances. This year’s talks will be illustrated with the help of Globe actors. Theatre company members will also be Talking Theatre after selected Wednesday and Saturday matinees, sharing their experiences of playing in the Globe. ChildsPlay workshops, on selected Saturdays, offer children an active drama-based introduction to Much Ado About Nothing.
