THE UN MOVIE SOCIETY PRESENTS SHAKESPEARE AT THE UN
IN COMMEMORATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAY 2024 AT THE UNITED NATIONS
VIRTUAL GLOBAL LAUNCH: UNITED NATIONS
Tuesday, 23 April 2024
9:00am EST (New York Time)
UN Global YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/unitednations
UN Web TV: http://webtv.un.org/
On 23 April 2024, in commemoration of the English Language Day 2024 at the United Nations, the UN Movie Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council will inaugurate the “Shakespeare at the UN”– an exploration of how the timeless works of Shakespeare, in reflecting the human experience, can resonate with the core values of the UN, such as promoting understanding of humanity and strengthening global connections. The project will be launched on the official global channels of the United Nations – UN Web TV and UN YouTube.
Shakespeare’s literature is more than mere words on a page. It is a mirror held up to the values and aspirations of our shared humanity, echoing the very essence of the United Nations. It resonates across languages and cultures. Shakespeare can connect us all: therefore, the excerpts will be performed through a multilingual, multicultural and multigenerational lens - featuring performances in some of the UN's official languages (including Chinese, French, and Spanish), by a 7-year-old, and even in sign-language. Opening the program, London’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama will present monologues focused on the UN's first pillar, "Peace and Security." These monologues explore the actions and strategies of leaders during war and their consequences. The program delves further into the UN's work through Shakespeare, showcasing themes including humanitarian aid and providing development assistance. We will be treated to a special performance of Sir Thomas More's speech on immigration by Adrian Lester CBE, from the Royal Shakespeare Company. The anthology will be concluded with a presentation from Shakespeare's Globe, featuring "All the World's a Stage."
Opening remarks will be delivered by H.E. Dame Barbara Woodward, DCMG, OBE, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations. On this occasion, messages will be delivered Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE, Principal and CEO of The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, Co-Artistic Directors of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Michelle Terry, Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe, and Michael Dobson, Director of the Shakespeare Institute.
English Language Day at the UN is celebrated annually April 23rd, the date traditionally observed as both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare. As well as being the most famous playwright, who wrote in English, Shakespeare also had a huge impact on modern-day English. Today, every one in four people in the world uses English. At the United Nations, English is one of the six official languages of the Organization. As we embark on an extraordinary journey into the heart of Shakespeare’s timeless wisdom, the performances in “Shakespeare at the UN” aims to spark reflection, healing, and a renewed commitment to the noble ideals that bind us together as nations under the banner of the United Nations. Founded at the United Nations Headquarters by Brenda Vongova, the UN Movie Society is committed to championing the goals and values of the United Nations through the universal language of motion pictures.
PROGRAMME
Opening
Brenda Vongova
President of the UN Movie Society
H.E. Dame Barbara Woodward, DCMG, OBE
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations
Peace and Security
Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE
Principal and CEO of The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London
- Lady Macbeth's speech from Act I Scene 5, from Macbeth, by William Shakespeare
~ Performed in American Sign Language by Dawn Jani Birley
with audio translation by Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE - The Chorus' speech from Act III Prologue, from Henry V, by William Shakespeare
~ Performed in Mandarin Chinese by Diana Feng - Shakespeare's Sonnet 19, by William Shakespeare
~ Performed in Farsi by Lanna Joffrey, with translation from Farokh Soltani - King Lear's speech from Act III Scene 4, from King Lear, by William Shakespeare
~ Performed by Danny Sapani
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- Troilus & Cressida (Act I, Prologue) (Excerpt), by William Shakespeare
~ Performed by Issei Keith (in English) - Henry IV, Part 1 (Act I, Scene I) (Excerpt), by William Shakespeare
~ Performed by Richard Keith (in English)
- Pericles (Act I, Scene 4), by William Shakespeare:
Pericles' speech as he arrives in order to bring humanitarian aid to the famine-hit Tarsus
~ Performed by Béla Czuppon (in French), La Baignoire company, Montpellier, France
In collaboration with the Institute for research on the Renaissance, the Neo-Classical Age, and the Enlightenment (IRCL) in Montpellier, France
Development and Climate Action
- Titania's speech to Oberon in Midsummer’s Night Dream (Act II, SceneI), by William Shakespeare
~ Performed by Paula Rodriguez (in Spanish)
Refugees
Remarks by Tamara Harvey & Daniel Evans
Co-Artistic Directors of the Royal Shakespeare Company
- An extract from Sir Thomas More by William Shakespeare
~ Performed by Adrian Lester CBE
Closing: All the World’s a Stage
Remarks by Michelle Terry
Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe
- All the World's a Stage, in As You Like It (Act 2, Scene 7), by William Shakespeare
~ Performed by Sophie Stone (in British Sign Language)
Professor Michael Dobson
Director of The Shakespeare Institute
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SPECIAL THANKS
UN Department of Global Communications
Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE, Principal and CEO
Megan Hunter, Head of Press and Public Relations
Shaun Northover, Head of Alumni Engagement
Kate McCurdy, Digital Content and Social Media Manager
Thomas Butler, Communications Officer
Shakespeare Globe
Michelle Terry, Artistic Director
Royal Shakespeare Company
Tamara Harvey, Co-Artistic Director
Daniel Evans, Co-Artistic Director
Adrian Lester CBE, Sir Thomas More
Julia Walter, Producer & Operation Lead Digital Development
Daniel Raggett, Consultant
Thank you to St. Martin-in-the-Fields
RSC’s Film Produced by Graded Films:
Freddie Hill, Producer
Adam Fox, Director of Photography
Jack Gould, Gaffer
Tom Colli, Steadicam Operator
Kelsey Rushworth, Sound Recordist
Shakespeare Institute
Professor Michael Dobson, Director of The Shakespeare Institute
La Baignoire company, Montpellier, France
In collaboration with the Institute for research on the Renaissance, the Neo-Classical Age, and the Enlightenment (IRCL) in Montpellier, France.
Special thanks to IRCL’s director Florence March, Sonny Merchat and Janice Valls-Russell for literary counsel and technique
With the support of the French Ministry for Culture
The French National Centre for Scientific Research
University Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3
Text translated into French by Jean-Michel Déprats
Dr. Richard Keith
Actor, Director, Acting Tutor
Royal Academy of Dance, London
Aud Jebsen Studio Theatre
Artwork in the Poster:
Procession of Characters from Shakespeare's Plays
Unknown artist (manner of Thomas Stothard)
Yale Center for British Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ziad Ayad
Firas Kayal
Rebecca Dixuan Bai
Video Editor
Cameraman for the UN Movie Society
