“Something’s Rotten” Part 1: Introduction to “Hamlet”

Explore the world and plot of William Shakespeare’s famous play.

We will be in Classroom 3.

Local teacher and published poet Matthew Friday (from the UK) will introduce the audience to the most famous play in the English language: Hamlet. The workshop will begin with an overview of the world of the play, including fascinating facts about its creation. Then the audience will be led through an exploration of the story of the play using a condensed plot summary. Throughout the presentation, there will be plenty of opportunities for questions and discussion. By the end of the presentation, audience members will understand the play’s story, the motivation of the key characters and the key themes.

This workshop is Part 1.  Part 2 is Something’s Rotten: Famous Scenes from Hamlet.  Feel free to attend one or both workshops.

About the Presenter:

Matthew James Friday is a writer and teacher from England. He has several degrees from the UK, including being a public school teacher. He has taught K-8 students in schools all around the world. He met his Bend-born wife Jill in Germany! Matthew is also a professional storyteller for children and drama teacher. For many years now, Matthew has run after-school Shakespeare-themed drama clubs, helping students create and produce slimmed down versions of many of Shakespeare’s plays, including Hamlet! Since arriving in the US at the height of the COVID pandemic, Matthew has become a father, run half-marathons, learned to drive a car for the first time, and had three poetry books published (The Residents, The Be-All and the End-All and Strange Beauty) with the fourth – a full length collection of 100 poems titled Wunderkammer coming soon! He now lives with his wife and daughter in Bend, Oregon.

Questions? Contact laurelh@deschuteslibrary.org