Shakespeare readings – 2023

On April 27, 2023, within the framework of the International Scientific and Practical Festival “Research Activities at the Classical University,” traditional “Shakespearean Readings” were held, organized annually by the Department of Foreign Philology of IvSU. The permanent ideological inspirer of the project is the head of the REC “Modern Russian and European Lexicography”, Doctor of Philology, prof. Olga Mikhailovna Karpova.

The university project, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, is designed to promote the cultural and aesthetic development of students, their acquaintance with the cultural realities of the country of the foreign language they are studying and the popularization of the works of William Shakespeare.

On the initiative of students, a new location was tested this year, which turned out to be very successful for this kind of creative projects. The “Artery” center hospitably opened its doors for us at the NIM-Loft site . This is a new creative space where different industries come together - art, fashion, design, music, literature, choreography, architecture and cinema.

Participants in the “Shakespeare Readings” presented artistic and musical performances of the great Bard’s sonnets in English, German, French, Greek and Uzbek, prepared informative and aesthetic posters about the English Renaissance and Shakespeare’s theater, as well as theatrical miniatures based on the works of the brilliant playwright.

Mikhail Zverev (3rd year, Foreign Philology), Maria Prokofieva (2nd year, Foreign Philology), Daria Sudareva (3rd year, Pedagogical Education), Alexandra Vasilyeva (2nd year, Foreign philology). Vanyan Roberta and Rakhmatjonov Murad were also awarded diplomas for his insightful reading of sonnets in Greek and Uzbek.

One of the most favorite competitions among students is the translation of William Shakespeare's sonnets into Russian. This year, 16 aspiring poets presented their own versions of translations to the audience. The winners in this category were Ekaterina Lotareva (3rd year, Pedagogical Education) and Maria Prokofieva (2nd year, Foreign Philology).

It is gratifying to note the active participation of junior students, who adequately demonstrated their knowledge of the creative heritage of William Shakespeare. Everyone - both spectators and participants - happily tested themselves using a video quiz proposed by the director of the Institute of Humanities Svetlana Andreevna Manik, and also competed in an intellectual quiz prepared by Arina Selishcheva (3rd year, Pedagogical Education).

The best readers, translators and actors were awarded books in English, teaching aids, branded IvSU souvenirs and sweet prizes.

As a true genius, Shakespeare is inexhaustible, and each generation of students strives to interpret it in their own way, to comprehend it more deeply, to say their own word about it. It seems to us that the latest “Shakespeare Readings” were a great success and will be remembered for a long time both by the participants of the performance and by the grateful audience!