On Oct. 10 some of the sophomore class traveled to the Shakespeare Tavern to see a performance of Julius Caesar. The group left around 8:45 am on Tuesday morning and didn’t get back until 2 pm that same afternoon. 

Shakespeare Tavern is a professional production group located in Atlanta, GA. Their main purpose is to share ancient works of Shakespeare with the public in a comfortable environment. There is a kitchen located in the back of the theatre itself to provide guests with food and drink before, at intermission, and at the end of the production. 

The play Julius Caesar is a tragedy in which the protagonist, whether it be one or more than one, experiences or causes an event in which they cannot recover from. The classic tragedy of Julius Caesar provided the sophomores with the first-hand experience of a Shakespeare tragedy, as they are currently studying tragedies in their English classes. 

Because the sophomore English classes will be studying Julius Caesar in the second semester, Mrs. Keith, a tenth-grade gifted English teacher, hoped the field trip to the tavern would help students understand Shakespeare’s play. She said, “Shakespeare did not write his plays so that they could be read; instead, he intended his audiences to enjoy the visual and auditory elements of the theatrical arts.” Mrs. Keith understands that Shakespeare’s plays were not easily translated into a simple reading and in order for students to understand his plays, they need the full effect. It helps students see the relationships and understand the meanings behind what the characters are saying and their emotions. 

Mrs. Johnson, who is also a tenth-grade gifted English teacher, hoped that the live performance would allow students to see the play from a new perspective and that in the future students would be able to apply what they saw in more depth ways. She said, “It will allow our class to dive deeper into ideas beyond the plot such as characterization, theme, and other analysis exercises.”

Although the monologue was somewhat difficult to comprehend, many of the students enjoyed the play. “The expressions and tones that the actors used allowed me to piece together what was going on,” said sophomore Sanaa Wright.

Other students did not enjoy the play as much but enjoyed being able to go on the field trip with friends. “The ride to the tavern was extremely fun because I got to sit with my friends,” said sophomore Iris Lashley, “Even though it was really boring, the actors and the crew seem like they put a lot of work into the production.”