Action Shakespeare

Every Thing That Grows

If “All the world’s a stage,” then it follows that classrooms, studios, galleries and gardens are too!  Four hundred years after his death, Shakespeare’s works continue to inspire artists across the globe with his raucous wit, heartfelt verse, and keen observations about what it means to be human. 

This project takes as its inspiration, six of Shakespeare’s sonnets that focus on life cycles in nature —  themes of birth, growth, attraction, propagation, decline, and death. Student writers, actors, soundscape designers, choreographers, dancers, composers, musicians, 3-d artists and architects (and their respective faculty) are using classes, labs, and projects within their specialties to create new works based on the sonnets… and each others’ work!

This multi-department effort will result in a gallery show of sculptures with music and dance performances, online aural content and a long-term exhibition along the paths of the Van Landingham Glen in the Botanical Gardens on campus. 

Come experience music in an art gallery or sculpture in a garden, dance along to sonnets, and listen to new theatre works online in this multi-modal and cross-disciplinary exploration of the cycles of life.

Faculty leaders: Tom Burch (Theatre), Jonathan Dessi-Olive (Architecture), Marissa Nesbit (Dance), Marek Ranis (Art), and Elizabeth Sullivan (Music)

ONLINE CONTENT: starting Nov 9
GALLERY SHOW: Lambla Gallery Nov 9-15
MUSIC AND DANCE PERFORMANCES: Nov 13
DANCE IN THE GARDEN: March 20 and 21, 2027
BOTANICAL GARDEN (in the Van Landingham Glen): March 2027-March 2028 

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Shakespeare’s Sass

This one-woman show – devised and directed by Rob Conkie, assistant directed by Elle Bilips, and performed by Ariana Zappley – debuted in May 2026 at Garinger High School and will continue to tour local schools throughout the 2026-27 academic year.

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Othello

Last year, the Action Shakespeare troupe took scenes from Othello into Garinger High School. We are looking to do this again. Stay tuned…

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Excursions

Students and faculty will visit the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia, October 17-18. On the program is a performance of The Tempest. More information coming soon!

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The Winter’s Tale

By William Shakespeare
Adapted and directed by Rob Conkie
March 18-21, 2027
Black Box Theater, Robinson Hall

The Winter’s Tale is one of Shakespeare’s last plays. 
It starts off tragic, then turns magic. 
Someone exits, pursued by a bear. 
There’s a sheep-shearing, swing-dancing, festival.
Love, and a pickpocket, is in the air.

I mean, what more could you want…? 

Shakespeare in Action was established by Dr. Andrew Hartley, UNC Charlotte’s first Robinson Distinguished Professor of Shakespeare Studies, with Professor of English Kirk Melnikoff. SIA’s activities are funded in part by the chaired position’s endowment. In Spring 2022, Dr. Hartley retired from UNC Charlotte, and in Fall 2023, the College of Arts + Architecture welcomed Dr. Rob Conkie as the new Robinson Distinguished Professor of Shakespeare Studies, who changed the name to Action Shakespeare.

Between 2010 and 2016, SIA’s various activities coalesced into a single project called “36 in 6” (see more below), the mission of which was to host an event connected to each play in the Shakespeare canon in the 6-year period leading up to the 400^th anniversary of his death on April 23rd, 2016. In keeping with SIA’s previous work, these events took different forms—lectures by professors with particular expertise in the selected play, staged readings, theatre department productions, and guest productions—all culminating in a gala event built around As You Like It.

SIA was on hiatus for the 2016-17 academic year while Dr. Hartley was away on reassignment of duties. In 2017-18 SIA helped fund the Actors From the London Stage’s visiting production of Measure for Measure, and donated scholarship money to the Shakespeare in England study abroad course. In Fall 2018, the Department of Theatre presented Twelfth Night, directed by Dr. Hartley and in Fall 2021 produced the audio play, The Corona Caesar, adapted and directed by Dr. Hartley.

During the 2022 Spring semester, prior to retiring from UNC Charlotte, Dr. Hartley organized “Shakespeare and Inclusivity: a semester-long case study of The Merchant of Venice.” The project included lectures, public readings, a workshop, a film screening, and a study tour to Washington, D.C.