Tina Packer was featured in yesterday’s New York Times. Writer Patrick Healy spent time with Tina here in Lenox discussing the origins of the Company, its current state and the transition to new Artistic Director Tony Simotes.
The change has not been easy on Ms. Packer, who built Shakespeare & Company from scratch as a young British transplant who wanted to create theater where actors would “speak the speech” of Shakespeare — in her words, focus with clarity on the meaning and intent of the language. While she takes great pride in the company’s legacy, its financial health is a continuing concern given that Shakespeare & Company — like many nonprofit theaters — has been buffeted by economic challenges.
Read the full story at nytimes.com.
Dear Tina,
I am an avid fan of Shakespeare and I am currently researching Sir Henry Neville as the author of Shakespeare, finding many encrypted occurences of his name and initials in the 1609 edition of the sonnets and especially on the last two pages of the copy at the John Rylands Library in Manchester, England. Interestingly, Sir Henry grew up in Berkshire England, 6 miles west of Windsor Castle, he was a founding member of thee 1607 London Virginia Company, and when his former home, Billingbear burned in 1925, a portion of it was brought to America by the Pace family (Mrs. Pace being Elizabeth Neville) to be re-built in the top floor of a high rise bulding across from City Hall in New York City, being a part of Pace University. Two interesting characteristics of this recreation are: a skull over the entrance (Poor Yorick?) and the portion relegated to the basement is reputed to be haunted (again with the Hamlet story line). I am seeking help for portions of my research from people with extensive knowledge of the minute details of the text of the plays, sonnets and poems from the original printings. Can you put me in touch with someone of this caliber of understanding?
Sincerely,
David Ewald
Hi Tina,
I just read your interview with WBUR, during the Hamlet Production, and in it you mentioned your desire to channel Shakespeare as a Director, if you were to read about Henry Neville (there is much more to be gleaned from his bio than that of Shakespeares) you will find a man that fits the sensibilities of the plays, sonnets and poems, as well as copies of letters written by him to aid in the discoveries you may be aiming for.
Best Wishes
Dave