Recently, we asked folks to help us create a Shakespeare-inspired online group monologue. Participants were given a writing prompt and were limited to 250 characters. More than a dozen creative individuals submitted their words. Then we crafted everyone’s poetry into a group monologue and asked our actor friends to record it in segments. The footage was shot during COVID-19 “stay-at-home” time to keep everyone safe. After that, we edited it all together. You can watch the video below or on Little Revolt’s YouTube channel.
Link to the Video on YouTube:
One of the reasons we loved this exercise is because participants had to go with their initial instincts, not overthink it–and just write something. In addition, they had to “trust” in the process. And it also gave actors the chance to do something a bit different.
Note: Special thanks goes to Off the Page for this idea.
The writing prompt was:
O, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, That has such people in it!
from The Tempest by William Shakespeare
You can read the full text of the monologue on the YouTube page. Enjoy!
Further Information:
Although our monologue may not have a direct connection with Shakespeare’s play, it does connect figuratively. The Tempest is a storm. A dark and foreboding danger, not unlike a virus lurking in the community.
Can you think of any other connections between our monologue and Shakespeare’s The Tempest?
