Tuesday, April 14
WHAT HAPPENED TO SHAKESPERE'S PLAYS
When Women Took to the Stage.
by Penny Gay
THE LECTURE​
When Charles II returned from exile in 1660, he reopened London’s theatres after 18 years of Puritan bans. For the first time, women could act on stage, and Shakespeare’s plays were reshaped with French spectacle and style. Some changes were bizarre, others brilliant, but all transformed how audiences saw his work. This lecture, with vivid images, explores how those bold 17th-century experiments influenced Shakespearean drama for centuries.
THE LECTURER​
Penny Gay, Professor Emerita of English and Drama at the University of Sydney, taught for 35 years. Her books include As She Likes It, Jane Austen and the Theatre, and The Cambridge Introduction to Shakespeare’s Comedies. Passionate about Shakespeare and theatre history, she continues to explore archives, review productions, and lead lively literary discussion groups.
Penny Gay
ARRIVE FROM 5: 30PM | LECTURE 6 PM
CESSNOCK PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
HELP SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF ART
Raffle tickets are sold at the door and cost $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00. Two winning tickets are drawn and the first winner takes the first pick. The raffle is drawn at the conclusion of the lecture.