Our studio is fully accessible and located on the first floor of The Belfast Center. Additionally, our program offers neurodiverse students a way of learning that respects and accommodates their needs with quiet and comfortable spaces for those who require breaks or a space to regroup or reflect. Our studio offers a private, gender-neutral bathroom. If you or your student have any questions about accommodations, we would be happy to answer them via our contact page.
Fall 2025
Accessing Shakespeare
Getting comfortable with speaking the speech
Instructor: Kat Alix-Gaudreau
Limit: 15 students.
Designed for everyone ages 15-92.
September 28th
2 PM - 6 PM
No experience necessary!
This is an introduction to performing Shakespeare, for anyone ages 15-92. For one afternoon, come to the Studio and you will learn the basics of speaking the speech, using your body to engage with Shakespeare’s characters, and becoming comfortable with performing Will’s works. Together, we will demystify Shakespeare’s text and do some fun performance work. Whether you’ve never spoken a line of Shakespeare, or he’s one of your favorite playwrights, we invite you to come get better acquainted!
We’ll cover:
Shakespeare basics - how his plays and characters are constructed, and how he wrote both for his actors and for everyday audience members.
Text analysis - breaking down the text so that we all understand it, the difference between prose and verse, and learning to “speak the speech”.
Playing Shakespeare - getting on our feet and using our bodies to engage with Shakespeare characters.
Stage Combat Workshop
October 5, 2025
2 PM - 5 PM (3 hours)
Come join the fun! In this one-day workshop we’ll be learning the basics of hand-to-hand stage combat, how to safely fall, and how to combine basic moves into an exciting performance!
This workshop runs for 3 hours, from 2 PM-5 PM, with a 20-minute break.
This workshop is designed for everyone ages 12 and up.
Come wearing comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes or sneakers.
"MidCoast Shakes is cool and the team is awesome. After learning how to analyze the text in Henry V, I now feel more confident when I start reading a Shakespearean play–not only Shakespeare, but any literature."
— Gus, 13yo