Shakespeare and Violence Prevention

The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is proud to collaborate with the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence and the Department of Theatre & Dance at CU Boulder to present a Shakespeare and Violence Prevention program, thanks to generous funding from CU Outreach, the Boulder Arts Commission, ASCI, and the OAK Foundation. Since 2011, the program has visited more than 22,000 Colorado schoolchildren. Appropriate for grades 3-12. 

Scroll down for details on booking the tour at your school. 

The Tempest

Fall dates: Sept. 17-Nov. 8, 2013

Prospero has been plotting his revenge for 12 years and the moment has finally arrived. His enemies are shipwrecked on his island and now it's time to get even for the terrible things they did to him many years ago.

But when he considers what it means to get revenge, Prospero decides to forgive his enemies instead. Shakespeare's line, "the rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance" has much to teach us about the power of choosing forgiveness over revenge. 

This performance and the workshops that follow focus on the importance of reconciliation and forgiveness as a tool for ending the cycle of violence. The workshops use theater exercises and scenes from The Tempest to explore alternatives to violence, using the latest research from the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado Boulder.

CSF's 'Tempest' anti-violence school tour makes PBS NewsHour

Watch Using Shakespeare's "The Tempest" as Anti-Bullying Tool on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

 CSF's 'Twefth Night' anti-bullying school tour on Denver's 9News

Learn more about CSF's innovative anti-bullying school program

Cost: $550

The program lasts approximately two hours and includes:

• Study guide (click link to download) 

• Performance of The Tempest (250 students max)

• Brief post-show talk-back with actors

• Three 50-minute classroom workshops about violence prevention (30 students max per workshop)

How do I book the tour?

 Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or call (303) 492-1973 with the following information:

• Requested tour date (no Mondays)

• Specify whether you prefer a morning or afternoon session

• School name and location 

In the News
PBS NewsHour 2013: "Anti-Bullying Lessons with the Bard"

Daily Camera 2013:"Elementary students learn to employ anti-violence strategies through Shakespeare"

9News: Colorado & Company Interview

Denver Post 2011: "Shakespeare gives the latest strategy in anti-bullying in schools"

Longmont Times-Call 2011: "Colorado Shakespeare Festival uses 'Twelfth Night' to talk about bullying"

Daily Camera 2011 article: "ColoradoShakespeare Festival uses 'Twelfth Night' to talk about bullying"

Special thanks to The Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Safe2Tell, Safe Communities~Safe Schools and the Department of Theatre & Dance.  This project is supported by the CU-Boulder Outreach Committee, the Boulder Arts Commission, the OAK Foundation, and the Fund for Arts and Sciences Community Involvement (ASCI).   

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