Two workshops, open to the public, part of the ‘Premodern Queenship and Diplomacy in Europe’ conference, Canterbury Christ Church University, 11-13thSeptember 2014.
Friday 11 September, St Gregory’s Centre, Canterbury Christ Church University
The early modern dance workshop examines the sexual politics of early modern diplomacy by way of non-verbal codes of conduct. Dr Anne Daye’s workshop relies fully on audience participation, as she will recreate a ballet scene from The Nine Muses: A Trope for Peace in Female Diplomacy. Through the precision of dance, Anne Daye will bring to life the means by which early modern queens could engage with diplomacy, at the same time as revealing the limitations to their power.
For more information about the dance workshop, please see the dance workshop webpage: http://www.premodernqueenship.com/#!untitled/c1mij
Saturday 12 September, St Gregory’s Centre, Canterbury Christ Church University
The early modern performance workshop seeks to investigate the complex and fascinating ways in which Elizabethan dramatists theatricalised British& European Queenship. Whether they staged events from the thirteenth century, or, provided flattering portraits of Elizabeth I, early modern dramatists were keen to reimagine Queenship and diplomacy. The workshop is important in investigating three major Elizabethan dramatists, John Lyly - who introduced Queens onto the early modern stage - Shakespeare, and Marlowe, to assess how the early modern theatre contributed to cultural and social understandings of powerful Queens. Featuring a talk by Dr Andy Kesson (Roehampton), the drama workshop explores the textual and performative means available to premodern elite women to engage informally with diplomacy. It will be followed by scenes from three plays by five professionally trained actors, Sophia Kayes, Sarah Mackenzie, Stephanie Winiecki, Ruth Rundle and Brian McMahon. The aim of the workshop is to invoke audience participation via an open floor discussion at the end of the performance between the actors, literary specialists and audience members.
For more information about the drama workshop, please see the drama workshop webpage: http://www.premodernqueenship.com/#!untitled/c152x
