The focus of my work as a theatre practitioner and researcher is Shakespeare and early modern English theatre. My interest in use of early texts as performance scripts and exploring early modern performance practice began as an acting company member and resident fight choreographer with the New England Shakespeare Festival (from 1999 to 2004). This work brought me into contact with practitioners and scholars such as Patrick Tucker and Don Weingust, eventually leading me to complete my MFA in Staging Shakespeare at the University of Exeter (UK). I have performed in (as well as choreographed fights and battles for) over half of the Shakespeare canon in the US and the UK, playing roles such as Richard III, Julius Caesar, Falstaff, Petruchio, Oberon, Jaques, Don Pedro, Cardinal Pandulph, and many others.
I believe that an understanding of “historically informed performance” is integral for actors and directors of Shakespeare – and will indeed have an effect for the reader of Shakespeare as well. The growing body of research behind this work is demonstrating that we must take into account the mechanics of performance in the early modern English theatre in order to fully understand the texts of the plays. We must never forget that Shakespeare himself was an actor as well as a playwright – his ability to communicate not only a character’s text, but also specific performance indications to his fellow actors within that text is a fundamental aspect of the plays. In addition, my time training and performing at Shakespeare’s Globe in London has given me a much deeper understanding of how the early modern theatre space and performance conditions shaped the actor’s work.
Research and Conferences
I was invited to present papers at the 2013 and 2015 Blackfriars Conferences at the American Shakespeare Center (Staunton, VA) and the 2014 New Researchers Network symposium (The Society for Theatre Research, London UK).
Teaching, Coaching, and Directing
I have co-developed and taught Shakespeare education programs for the New England Shakespeare Festival (NH), Northern Stage (VT), Shakespeare Now! (MA) and the Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MA). I am also available for individual actor coaching – email kim@kimcarrell.com for more information and rates.
As Richard III – New England Shakespeare Festival, 2004