***LOCATION CHANGE ***
With the Downtown Nashville Public Library temporarily closed, August 2nd’s Shakespeare Allowed! will take place at the Inglewood branch, located at 4312 Gallatin Pike, Nashville, TN 37216.
Shakespeare Allowed!
The best way to read Shakespeare's plays is out loud and with friends!
The Nashville Shakespeare Festival invites you to read every play Shakespeare wrote, out loud in a reading circle. Once a month, we will gather to read one of the works of William Shakespeare, beginning with the first play he wrote and ending with his last. No need to commit to the whole canon, but if you’ve ever wanted to say “Yeah, I’ve read all of Shakespeare’s plays," this is the perfect opportunity to achieve that lofty goal!
How it works:
We meet at 11:50am. Whoever wants to read out loud can choose to sit at the table. The first 16 people who want to read will be assigned a number, and that will be the reading order. There will be additional seating available for anyone who wants to read along silently. (Although we might ask you to pipe in for crowd scenes!) The reading starts at 12:00 pm. We will take a 15 minute break in the middle of each play. During the break, anyone outside of the circle who would like a turn to read out loud may pull up a chair. Some copies of the play will be available, but please bring your own if possible.
When and Where:
Shakespeare Allowed will be held in-person on the first Saturday of each month at 12:00PM (A Webex option is still available. Click below to register.)
Downtown Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219
3rd Floor Commons Room
Up to 100 people can join and follow along on Webex.
*PLEASE NOTE : AUGUST 2ND’s READING WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE INGLEWOOD LIBARY LOCATION - 4312 GALLATIN PK, NASHVILLE TN 37216.
Everyone’s welcome!
Readings will always be free and open to the public. Hearing these plays read aloud will give you more insight into the depth of Shakespeare’s works. We welcome all voices, all dialects! This is intended to be a fun time, so bring your sense of humor.
"Kristen Kindoll: Read aloud -- or read along -- with Shakespeare" The Tennessean (6/17/2014)
Shakespeare Allowed! Dates 2025
Henry VI, Part 1 - January 4, 2025
Henry VI, Part 2 - February 1, 2025
Henry VI, Part 3 - March 1, 2025
Richard III - April 5, 2025
Titus Andronicus - May 3, 2025
The Comedy of Errors - June 7, 2025
The Taming of the Shrew - July 5, 2025
The Two Gentlemen of Verona - August 2, 2025
Love’s Labor’s Lost - September 6, 2025
Richard II - October 4, 2025
King John - November 1, 2025
Romeo & Juliet - December 6, 2025