New UNG partnership provides unique Shakespeare experience

DAHLONEGA - As Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage," and a new partnership gives University of North Georgia (UNG) students and faculty the opportunity to work with two Shakespearean theater companies and possibly become players on a period-inspired stage in Atlanta.<br /> <br /> In an agreement signed last week, UNG established partnerships with the Atlanta Shakespeare Co., which was the first American company to perform on the stage of the famous Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London and the Resurgens Theatre Co.<br /> <br /> Both companies use an approach called "original practice," in which a play is presented in the manner and language it was originally written, whether penned by Shakespeare, his contemporaries or a modern playwright. That style, and the inclusion of works from other 16th and 17th century playwrights, makes the partnership a unique opportunity, said Dr. Brent Griffin, an assistant professor of English at UNG who will be facilitating the partnership.<br /> <br /> "The Globe is just now branching off into their new, indoor Jacobean theater and starting to tackle some of these works, but we're keeping pace with them," Griffin said. "These contemporaries of Shakespeare