I'm glad to see the reappearance of this thread, and great to see so many Shakespeare enthusiasts here. I was interested to re-visit my original post on this thread from way back in 2005. You asked if any of us are actors, Michael. Back then I was just about to perform in my 5th Shakespeare play (The Merchant of Venice). Before that, I had been Viola in "Twelfth Night", Hermione in "The Winter's Tale", Lady Montague and a (female) Friar (=nun) John in "Romeo & Juliet" and First Witch in "Macbeth". Since then, I have also been the Doctor in the same play - open air, pouring rain on several occasions and very glad that I was wearing a big hat (Lady M in her nightgown was not so lucky).

Last year I was also indirectly in a Shakespeare, in a tour of "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead", which was terrific fun, as Gertrude and mostly cavorting around as one of the players. I count myself so fortunate to have had these experiences. Actually performing in the plays adds an extra dimension to an understanding of them and it is a totally open-ended exercise with always something more to discover.

Back in 2005 I wrote that I had just started directing 11 year-olds in a Shakespeare4Kidz script of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". That went so well that a couple of years later we did "Macbeth", written by the same company. If any of you are looking for ways to make Shakespeare accessible to primary school children, I thoroughly recommend Shakespeare4Kidz. (www.shakespeare4kidz.com).

It's so funny how things evolve. Since writing that post six years ago, I left that job and returned to drama school at Rose Bruford and one of my regular jobs now is going into schools giving Shakespeare workshops for that company.

I envy your having seen the Deborah Warner production of "Titus Andronicus", Al - I've recently been reading about it and the way they played the scene when Lavinia is first discovered in her terrible state. I love your Noel Coward story, too ! One of the things about Lavinia is that she can be seen to be a metaphor for the Roman Empire and its decline.

I've just embarked on a MA course at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford and am right now researching the imagery in Act 1, which subliminally hints at much of what is to happen later on - so it's very timely that this conversation about Titus has come up.

I've been watching the BBC version, with Trevor Peacock ("Jim" who says "No, no, no, yes" in "The Vicar of Dibley") as Titus. I only realized it was him after Titus had said "Nay", then I couldn't get it out of my mind ! I really think Mrs. Cropley, maker of those wonderful cakes in Dibley, should have turned up when he served the pie at the end !

Still working on seeing all the plays, but making headway....

- jeanie