Camp Shakespeare

Camp Shakespeare 2009

Camp Shakespeare, a component of The University of Texas Shakespeare at Winedale Program, is a two-week residential camp for young people, ages 10-16, held in the small town of rural Round Top, Fayette County, Texas, with daily activity at the University of Texas Winedale Historical Center, located five miles away.

David Williams performs in Love's Labour's Lost,
Camp Shakespeare 2008. Photo by Kurt Regenbrecht.

Camp Shakespeare is dedicated to exploring a Shakespearean play through performance. This is an experience in daily performance, in exploring language and character, in doing, playing at play. It is not an "acting" or "theater" camp. Here, we celebrate the creative process. We do not rehearse "shows."

The following observations by a former (1980) Shakespeare at Winedale student whose daughter (age 12) attended Camp Shakespeare, and the parent of a recent camper (age 16), say quite a bit about what happens at Camp Shakespeare:

Their accomplishment [at Camp] is the more remarkable when we consider that none of these students are theater or drama students but only kids interested in working together to explore a play through performance, the original purpose of Shakespeare at Winedale. In the process, their play becomes a vehicle for their exploration of language, of social encounter and problem-solving, for developing self-confidence and self-esteem, verbal and written expression, and, through Shakespeare, for gaining insight into the human condition.

Looking in from the outside, it's a pretty risky thing that Camp Shakespeare is doing. I actually think that's why it works. You take a bunch of kids who don't know each other, have wildly different personalities, don't know if they have chemistry together, and ask them to produce a world class production. In two weeks! A lot of organizations would never attempt that and most could never pull it off. But I think Camp Shakespeare does because it creates the right community for those kids ' it's not about me, it's about us; it's about the play. The kids realize what amazing stuff they can accomplish in just two weeks' time by letting go. The camp empowers kids to be themselves and use what they've got, and puts faith in them that they can do it. Believing they can do it, they do!

Camp Shakespeare accepts applications from candidates anywhere, in public, private, or home schools. Experience with theater or with Shakespeare is not necessary. Commitment to working long hours daily at play with others is.

Camp Dates

Camp Shakespeare will offer two sessions for Summer 2009:

Session #1: Sunday, June 7 - Saturday, June 20
Session #2: Sunday, June 28 - Saturday, July 11

Camp Fee

The cost of Camp Shakespeare '09 is $900.00.

Questions of any kind should be directed to Doc Ayres at jayres@cvtv.net. Students wishing to learn more about the process of Camp Shakespeare may wish to participate in the Spring activities of the Outreach to Schools Programs or "Saturday Shakespeare" workshops at The University of Texas directed by Clayton Stromberger, cstromberger@mail.utexas.edu.

For a full description of Camp Shakespeare's staff, daily schedule, application process, and more, please download the full information guide (PDF, 85K)

Camp Site

The site of Camp Shakespeare is the Round Top Inn Retreat & Conference Center, in Round Top, Texas. The Inn provides a comfortable country and historical setting for the experience: students enjoy the privilege of using and the responsibility of caring for these beautifully-restored 19th century Texas buildings which serve as dormitories, dining, and gathering spaces. Please see the Inn's website for a view of the facility. Host of the Inn is David Athley.

Applications

Each session will be composed of 14 students. The application process requires prospective campers to send (1) the completed Application Form; (2) an essay by the applicant (a) introducing herself/himself and (b) explaining why he or she wishes to participate in Camp Shakespeare '09, exploring expectations/hopes/goals; and (3) two letters of recommendation from teachers. Applications from former campers do not require teachers' letters.

Please note: applications are due April 10th

The completed file should be sent to Professor Jim Ayres, P.O. Box 202, Round Top, Tx, 78954.

Application for former camp students (PDF, 64K)
Application for new students (PDF, 56K)