This isn’t your typical Shakespearean sonnet…it’s groundbreaking and forges a new path for those who are passionate about the formation of a new kind of literature. 

Jessica Hill’s play The Dark Lady brings to light Emilia Bassano, who was believed to be the first female in England to assert herself as a professional poet, and the most likely contender for the unknown female Shakespeare so often alluded to.  We’ll spend this week keeping the story alive through time, querying “who really was the dark lady?” referred to in sonnets. 

 

Christianne will lead the group through engaging discussions around the mysterious quality of this, as yet, unidentified character. There is something freeing about knowing that there won’t ever be concrete confirmation, as our imaginations are left to iterate and explore the endless possibilities.

 

Taking inspiration from Jessica’s work, each student will write their own dark lady profile, incorporating them into a sonnet, or poem of their creation. This camp coincides with the Bard on the Beach performance of The Dark Lady, and as we have done in previous years, we will secure tickets for the July 30 production (with a student discount) -- families are always welcome to tag along too. 

 

We will this camp by creating our own fitted, half masks depicting the inner nature of our own “Dark Ladies.” Of course, access to the resource bank of the Lyceum will guarantee unique and wonderful disguises.​

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