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Black Lives Matter

June 3, 2020 by David Stradley

View “Anti-Racism Next Steps”

Shakespeare is not a voice we naturally turn to for racial justice. There are elements of his work that are problematic for Black artists and audience members.

But at his best what Shakespeare tries to do in his plays is to see every person as a full and complete human being.

Delaware Shakespeare’s vision is a world where people from all walks of life celebrate and explore their shared humanity through the lens of Shakespearean works.

We still have work to do to find that shared humanity. As does Delaware. As does our country. The death of George Floyd and the resulting nationwide demonstrations have made that very clear.

But Delaware Shakespeare will keep trying to do its part, and stands in solidarity against racism, hate, and brutality.

Many of our Community Tour partners have been doing this work for years. These are Delaware groups – and there are so many more – that you can learn more about and join in the efforts to make a better world for us all.

Christina Cultural Arts Center
Delaware State University
First State Community Action Agency
Inner City Cultural League
Kingswood Community Center
Latin American Community Center
Rosehill Community Center
Wilmington HOPE Commission
YWCA Delaware

If you are white, and either a leader of a cultural organization or a person who loves the arts, Dr. Indira Etwaroo of The Billie Holiday Theatre shares these action steps you can take to stand with institutions of color:

  • Use your social media and online platforms to underscore your support of justice for the African American community and cultural institutions now and moving forward;
  • Advocate to your funders and elected officials your stand for equitable funding for institutions of color;
  • Create a radically welcoming space for not just select Black artists and works, but for all Black audiences beyond MLK Weekend and African American Heritage Month;
  • Visit our communities and institutions. Invest in our small businesses. Attend our events;
  • and, Be the person who doesn’t look like the majority of people in a space and experience the power of that perspective.

There are many ways to take action. Members of our staff and board have made donations to the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League.

For the broader issue of racial justice, you may find the following organizations and resources useful:

Black Lives Matter
Equal Justice Initiative
Racial Equity Tools’ Book and Film Lists

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Black Lives Matter

View “Anti-Racism Next Steps” Shakespeare is not a voice we naturally turn to for racial justice. There are elements of his work that are problematic for Black artists and audience members. But at his best what Shakespeare tries to do in his plays is to see every person as a full and complete human being. […]

Send a Shakespeare Love Note to Our Community

Let’s fill social media with messages of love in the run-up to Valentine’s Day! We’re inviting Del Shakes fans to record a video of a brief Shakespeare love quote, and share it with us. We’ll post on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Here’s a list of ten Shakespeare love quotes compiled by Associate Artist Emily Schuman. Or you […]

Shakespeare + St. Valentine

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13 at 7:30pm ONLINE Our annual Valentine’s program shifts to a virtual format in 2021. A diverse group of Del Shakes actors will read romantic Shakespeare scenes. Each scene will be paired with a drink idea from Swigg and a chocolate from a local chocolatier*. In this interactive program, there will also be […]

Hip Hop or Shakespeare? Quiz Night

Hip Hop or Shakespeare? Quiz NightFebruary 4 at 7:00pmOnline via ZoomPay-What-You-Decide  Think you can tell your 2Pac from your Shakespeare? Join us for a virtual quiz night to find out. In this fun interactive program, you’ll learn about the surprising connections and poetic similarities between the wordplay of the Bard from Avon and hip hop artists […]

An ancient tale told anew

by Gail Obenreder, Arts Journalist-in-Residence To end a challenging season – an amalgam of virtual events and safely distanced outdoor presentations – Delaware Shakespeare rounded out 2020 with an online reading of a challenging play, William Shakespeare’s Cymbeline. After a year spent offstage, exploring the canon’s scenes, monologues, and nooks and crannies, Del Shakes actors […]

Building Bridges Through Culture

by Christian Wills, Arts Journalist-in-Residence The topic around race and culture among Shakespeare productions is an ongoing conversation with those in the theatre. Audience members can gleam onto an actor’s struggle between their true selves and what’s being represented on stage. For Del Shakes, the discovery of what a culturally-specific production is and how impactful […]

  • New Castle County

    Matthew S. Meyer, County Executive. New Castle County's Rockwood Park is the summer home of Delaware Shakespeare. www.rockwood.org

  • Delaware Division of the Arts

    Delaware Shakespeare is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on delawarescene.org.

  • Janssen's Market

    Delaware Shakespeare is delighted to have Janssen's Market as our Picnic Sponsor. www.janssensmarket.com

  • Highmark Delaware

    Highmark Delaware is our Children's Activity Tent Sponsor.
    www.highmarkbcbsde.com

  • Swigg

    Swigg is our Wine Shop Sponsor.
    www.swiggwine.com

  • Delmarva Power

    Delmarva Power have generously donated assistance and resources to Delaware Shakespeare. www.delmarva.com

Summer Festival Location

Rockwood Park
4651 Washington Street Extension
Wilmington, DE 19809
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Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: 302-468-4890
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About Del Shakes

We envision a Delaware where people from all walks of life celebrate and explore their shared humanity through the lens of Shakespearean works.
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